Prevalence of enterotoxigenic bacillus cereus in raw and pasteurized milk

ABSTRACT

A total of 150 milk samples collected from different dairy farms and supermarkets were analyzed for the presence of Bacillus cereus and detection of Bacillus diarrheal enterotoxin using two immunological tests BCET-RPLA and TECRA-VIA kits. Of the 150 milk samples, 40% and 30% of raw and pasteurized milk, respectively, were yielded. B. cereus colonies on Bacillus cereus selective medium were identified biochemically using API 50 CHB and API 20 kits. Twenty-six Bacillus cereus strains showed visible growth at 7C within 10 days. Two different immunological kits for the detection of the diarrheal toxin were compared. TECRA-VIA kit seems to be a reliable and productive than RPLA fit for detection the toxin