Circulation of enterotoxigenic strains of Staphylococcus aureus in humans and their environment.

In the study of eight groups of staphylococci covering 870 strains of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from humans and ten kinds of animals, it was found that a total of 271 strains [31.4%] produced some of the types of staphylococcal enterotoxin [SE]. With the exception of 34 strains isolated from staphylococcal enterotoxicosis the other strains were unrelated to this disease. While among healthy persons 14% [students]---57% [employees of food industry undertakings] enterotoxigenic strains were detected, in persons under medical care SE positivity was within the range of 30---40%. Cases with staphylococcal enterotoxicosis included 68% of enterotoxigenic strains. In animals the incidence of SE-producing strains amounted to some 2 per cent. The most frequent SE type was type A [50%], the most rare type was type E [about 2%]; strains producing more than one SE type were represented in 10% of cases. There is discussed the importance of the obtained findings for man from the aspect of enterotoxigenity.