Enterotoxins of Staphylococcus aureus induce a cytopathic effect in cell lines

We describe the use of cell cultures for the detection of Staphylococcus au reus enterotoxins. Madin Darby Bovine Kidney (MDBK), Bovine Embryo lung cells (PEB) and Dog Ca rcinoma Cell line (A-72) cell monolayers were tested. MDBK, A-72 and PEB ce ll lines proved to be susceptible to the cytotoxic effect induced by staphy lococcal enterotoxins. A cytopathic effect was observed in some cases after 2 hours of incubation. The PEB cell line was the most susceptible and may be used as a useful and cheap method for screening enterotoxigenic S. aureus strains.