Detection of staphylococcal enterotoxigenicity IV. Strains isolated in 1981 and 1982.

Enterotoxin A, B, C, D and E detection and typing was undertaken in 807 staphylococcal strains isolated from food, breast milk, clinical material, diarrhoeal stools and hospital-collected swabs in 1981 and 1982. One hundred and sixty-six of the strains produced enterotoxin, most frequently type A or C, less so type D or B. There were single instances of strains with double toxin production: AB, AC or AD. Nine hundred and ten supernatants collected in 1972-1973 were additionally tested (after a lapse of 8 years) for type D enterotoxin; there were 152 positive specimens, predominantly relating to strains isolated from tinned cocoa and delicatessen, with 26 of the supernatants containing AD and BD enterotoxin combinations. For the first time the authors' laboratory detected strains producing enterotoxin F and the combination.