Detection of Bacillus cereus genes responsible for diarrheal and emetic toxins

Abstract

Bacillus cereus isolated from different food sources. The diarrheal toxin genes such as cytK, hemolytic enterotoxin (hblA, hblC and hblD), non-hemolytic enterotoxin (nheA, nheB and nheC), bceT and entFM in addition to emetic toxin gene were detected by PCR. The cyt K gene was observed in 94.87 % of the isolates. entFM and emetic toxin gene were found very rare in all food samples at the percentage 2.56% and 7.69% respectively. Uncooked rice which has a highest number of bacterial isolation, also showed relatively high percentage of the cytK and bceT genes (90%). These two genes present in 100% of Bacillus cereus isolates in most food samples. Bacteria isolated from burger meat contain all investigated genes.