Toxic properties of Bacillus cereus strains isolated from different foodstuffs.

Toxic activity of 89 culture filtrates of Bacillus cereus strains were examined. From the total number of the filtrates tested, 3 were found to cause fluid accumulation in the ligated rabbit ileal loop. 71 samples caused a vascular permeability increase in the rabbit skin corresponding to an intermediate or strong toxin production. 59 of the 89 culture filtrates were cytotoxic on Vero cells, 31 had a lethal effect, 81 induced hemolysis of 0.5% rabbit erythrocytes and 55 tested samples showed lecithinase activity. The results showed that relationships exist between the extent of the permeability reaction and cytotoxicity, lecithinase and lethality. No relationship was found between permeability reaction size and reaction in the ligated rabbit ileal loop, nor a strict correlation between permeability reaction and hemolysin. Similarly, the part of culture filtrates showing a weak, or no reaction in the rabbit skin showed hemolytic activity.