Enterotoxin production by strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from human, food and animal sources was investigated. Of the 130 isolates studied, 27 (20.8%) were found to be enterotoxigenic. The most common enterotoxin detected from human sources was enterotoxin C whereas enterotoxin B occurred more frequently in staphylococcal strains of food origin. The 2 enterotoxigenic strains, from animals isolated from a dog and a goat, produced enterotoxins A and C, respectively. Enterotoxin E was not detected alone from any of the enterotoxigenic strains studied, but occurred together with other enterotoxins. The need to detect enterotoxin in staphylococcal strains and in suspected foods for the confirmation of staphylococcal food poisoning is discussed.
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