Ecopathological Features of Bacillus Cereus Food Poisoning in Anambra State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the level of contamination of Bacillus cereus in Nigeria local cooked /boiled foods in Anambra State, Nigeria. One hundred and ninety (190) different types of extra human samples made up of 10 each ready to eat cooked/boiled foods were randomly purchased from local food vendors and restaurants. Eighty (80) human diarrheal stools from patients suspected of food poisoning attending clinics and laboratories and fifty control stool from human volunteers were also examined for the presence of Bacillus cereus. The extra human samples were first homogenized in 1% peptone, incubated at 37oc for 24hours and then sub cultured on to freshly prepared blood, MacConkey, and Polymyxin B agar plates while a direct stool culture on the above agar plates were also done. Bacillus cereus was identified using cultural characteristics, Gram staining reaction, spore staining reaction for the presence of lipid globules which is specific for Bacillus cereus, some biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Animal studies results revealed pathological involvement of the liver. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were carried out using agar diffusion methods. Bacillus cereus was detected in 44(23.4%) of 190 extra human samples. Bacillus cereus was isolated in ready to eat cooked/boiled foods, 20(33.3%) of 90 cooked/boiled foods, soup category 10(20%) of 50 soup samples, 15(30%) of 50 steamed wrapped foods samples. No Bacillus cereus was isolated from stew sample while 4(40%) of 10 samples each of abacha (African salad, breadfruit (ukwa), boiled palm nut oil soup (akwu), plantain pudding (ukpogede) were positive for Bacillus cereus.  Bacillus cereus was isolated in 15(18.5%) of 80 diarrheal stool samples and 4(8%) of 50 control stool. 42 (95.45%) of Bacillus cereus isolated were positive for the enterotoxins while 2(4.55%) all from cooked rice were negative. The Bacillus cereus isolated were 100% resistant to ampiclox. The results of this study showed that Bacillus cereus is a common contaminant of Nigerian’s local foods and food products and is mainly of the enterotoxin (diarrheal type). Keywords: Ecopathology, Bacillus cereus, Food poisoning, Enterotoxi

Incidence, Characterization and Pathological Features of Bacillus Cereus in Soil, Raw Cereals and Meat in Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the level of contamination of Bacillus cereus in soil, raw cereal and meat in Anambra State Nigeria. Eighty (80) different types of extra human samples made up of 10 each from soil from animal houses, moist soil, soil from plant roots, and dry soil, 10 each from raw cereal- maize, beans, rice and raw meat. Raw cereal and meat were randomly purchased from local food vendors and markets and soil samples were collected from different locations. Eighty human diarrheal stool samples from patients attending clinics and fifty (50) control stool samples from human volunteers were also evaluated for the presence of Bacillus cereus. All samples were transported to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. The extra human samples were first homogenized in 0.1% peptone water, incubated at 37oc for 24 hours and then subcultured on to freshly prepared blood, MacConkey and polymyxinB agar plates while a direct stool culture on the above plates were also done. Bacillus cereus was identified using cultural characteristics, Gram staining reaction, spore staining for the presence of lipid globules and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enterotoxin production by Bacillus cereus and its effect on animal models was done. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were carried out. Bacillus cereus was isolated in 11(27.5%) of 40 soil samples, 5(16.6%) of 30 cereal crops and raw meat   4(40%). Soil from animal houses and raw meat had the highest contamination of 4(40%) each from 10 samples studied. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the Bacillus cereus isolated from soil, raw cereal and meat samples. Bacillus cereus was isolated in 15(18.8%) of 80 diarrheal stool and 4(8%) of 50 control stool samples which difference was not statistically significant. ALL Bacillus cereus isolated were positive for the enterotoxin and resistant to ampiclox. The results of this study reveal that Bacillus cereus is a common contaminant of soil, raw cereals and meat and is mainly of the diarrheal type. Keywords: Bacillus cereus, incidence, characterization, pathological feature

Life in extraterrestrial environments Quarterly status report, Feb. 15 - May 15, 1966

Simulated Martian atmospheric and ecological effects on Bacillus cereus spore germinatio

Genomic and toxigenic heterogeneity of bacillus cereus sensu lato Isolated from ready-to-eat foods and powdered milk in day care centers in Colombia

Bacillus cereus sensu lato (s.l.) is a group of bacteria commonly found in diverse environments, including foods, with potential to cause emesis and diarrhea. In Colombia, it is one of the main foodborne pathogens. The aim of this study was to determine the genomic and toxigenic heterogeneity of B. cereus s.l. isolated from ready-to-eat foods and powdered milk collected in day care centers of Medellin, Colombia. Of 112 B. cereus s.l. isolates obtained, 94% were beta-hemolytic. Toxigenic heterogeneity was established by the presence of nheABC, hblCDAB, cytK2, entFM, and cesB toxigenic genes. The nheABC operon and entFM gene were most frequently detected in the isolates, whereas the cesB gene was not found. According to the toxin genes content, nine toxigenic profiles were identified. A 44% of isolates had profiles with all genes for nonhemolytic enterotoxin, hemolysin BL, and enterotoxin FM production (profiles II and IV). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis indicated a high genomic heterogeneity among the B. cereus s.l., with 68 isolates grouping into 16 clusters and 33 placed separately in the dendrogram. This study provides useful information on the safety of ready-to-eat foods and powdered milk in day care centers where children, a susceptible population, are exposed and it should incentive for more studies to understand the distribution of different toxin-encoding genes among B. cereus s.l. isolates, enabling detailed risk assessment

Incidence, Characterization and Pathological Features of Bacillus Cereus in Soil, Raw Cereals and Meat in Anambra State, Eastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the level of contamination of Bacillus cereus in soil, raw cereal and meat in Anambra State Nigeria. Eighty (80) different types of extra human samples made up of 10 each from soil from animal houses, moist soil, soil from plant roots, and dry soil, 10 each from raw cereal- maize, beans, rice and raw meat. Raw cereal and meat were randomly purchased from local food vendors and markets and soil samples were collected from different locations. Eighty human diarrheal stool samples from patients attending clinics and fifty (50) control stool samples from human volunteers were also evaluated for the presence of Bacillus cereus. All samples were transported to the laboratory for microbiological analysis. The extra human samples were first homogenized in 0.1% peptone water, incubated at 37oc for 24 hours and then subcultured on to freshly prepared blood, MacConkey and polymyxinB agar plates while a direct stool culture on the above plates were also done. Bacillus cereus was identified using cultural characteristics, Gram staining reaction, spore staining for the presence of lipid globules and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Enterotoxin production by Bacillus cereus and its effect on animal models was done. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were carried out. Bacillus cereus was isolated in 11(27.5%) of 40 soil samples, 5(16.6%) of 30 cereal crops and raw meat   4(40%). Soil from animal houses and raw meat had the highest contamination of 4(40%) each from 10 samples studied. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the Bacillus cereus isolated from soil, raw cereal and meat samples. Bacillus cereus was isolated in 15(18.8%) of 80 diarrheal stool and 4(8%) of 50 control stool samples which difference was not statistically significant. ALL Bacillus cereus isolated were positive for the enterotoxin and resistant to ampiclox. The results of this study reveal that Bacillus cereus is a common contaminant of soil, raw cereals and meat and is mainly of the diarrheal type. Keywords: Bacillus cereus, incidence, characterization, pathological feature

Life in extraterrestrial environments Quarterly status report, 1 Sep. - 30 Nov. 1967

Importance of Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus survival and growth to extraterrestrial planetary contaminatio

Poultry and Beef Meat as Potential Seedbeds for Antimicrobial Resistant Enterotoxigenic Bacillus Species: A Materializing Epidemiological and Potential Severe Health Hazard

Although Bacillus cereus is of particular concern in food safety and public health, the role of other Bacillus species was overlooked. Therefore, we investigated the presence of eight enterotoxigenic genes, a hemolytic gene and phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiles of Bacillusspecies in retail meat samples. From 255 samples, 124 Bacillus isolates were recovered, 27 belonged to B. cereusand 97 were non-B. cereus species. Interestingly, the non-B. cereus isolates carried the virulence genes and exhibited phenotypic virulence characteristics as the B. cereus. However, correlation matrix analysis revealed the B. cereus group positively correlates with the presence of the genes hblA, hblC, and plc, and the detection of hemolysis (p \u3c 0.05), while the other Bacillus sp. groups are negatively correlated. Tests for antimicrobial resistance against ten antibiotics revealed extensive drug and multi-drug resistant isolates. Statistical analyses didn’t support a correlation of antibiotic resistance to tested virulence factors suggesting independence of these phenotypic markers and virulence genes. Of special interest was the isolation of Paenibacillus alvei and Geobacillus stearothermophilus from the imported meat samples being the first recorded. The isolation of non-B. cereus species carrying enterotoxigenic genes in meat within Egypt, suggests their impact on food safety and public health and should therefore not be minimised, posing an area that requires further research

Contamination of Bacillus cereus in Elementary School Snack Food

Many food snacks have the advantage but still have health risks as evidenced by the many cases of food poisoning, one of the causes of food poisoning is Bacillus cereus. This study aims to determine the amount and percentage of Bacillus cereus pollution on snacks sold in elementary schools. This research is expected to provide information to the public about the presence or absence of bacteria Bacillus cereus contamination. This research uses purposive sampling technique. The sample used in this study was hawker food sold in Elementary School as many as 20 samples consisting of 10 samples that have not fried and ten samples that have cooked. The results of the questionnaire study showed 83% of sellers did not put snacks in closed containers and found Bacillus cereus in meals. Conclusion 9 (45%) of food samples contaminated with Bacillus cereus bacteri

Prevalence of Bacillus cereus and emetic strains detection from Ivory Coast local flours

Bacillus cereus is a pathogen associated with diarrheal and emetic food borne illness. However, in Africa, the prevalence of food borne infections attributable to this bacterium is difficult to establish accurately. Given the involvement of farinaceous foods in the majority of emetic outbreak and the dietary habits in Ivory Coast, implying an increase in the consumption of traditionally produced flours, the prevalence of Bacillus cereus and emetic strains associated to local flours produced in Abidjan were assessed. In this purpose, 100 samples of millet, maize and cassava flours were collected from five different Abidjan municipalities. Microbiological analysis were carried out in accordance with the standard EN ISO 7932 : 2004 and the European regulation EC 2073/2005, to enumerate the Bacillus cereus.. Bacillus cereus strains isolated were screened by polymerase chain reaction, for emetic strains detection. Overall, 31 (31 %) of maize, millet and cassava flours were positive for Bacillus cereus, at levels below 103 CFU/g. Comparing the five municipalities, the concentration of Bacillus cereus was not significantly different (P<0,05). Also, no significant  difference was observed, regardless of the types of flour analyzed. Furthermore, no potentially emetic toxin–producing strains were detected in this work.Keyword : Bacillus cereus, flour, pathogen, emetic strain. French Title: Prevalence de la detection de <i>Bacillus cereus</i> et de souches emetiques dans les farines locales de Cote d'Ivoire Bacillus cereus est un pathogène alimentaire responsable de toxi-infection diarrhéique et émétique. Le syndrome émétique est généralement associé aux aliments farineux. Compte tenu de l’implication des aliments farineux dans les toxi-infections émétiques et de la grande consommation de farines localement produites en Côte d’Ivoire, la prévalence de B. cereus a été évaluée dans cette denrée. 100 échantillons de farines de mil, de maïs et de manioc ont été collectés dans cinq communes d’Abidjan. Des  analyses microbiologiques ont été effectuées conformément à la norme EN ISO 7932: 2004 et à la réglementation européenne CE 2073/2005, afin de dénombrer les Bacillus Cereus et identifier les souches émétiques. Cet pathogène était présent dans 31 (31 % ) des farines de maïs, de mil et de manioc, à des concentrations inférieures à 103 UFC /g. Cette concentration n’est pas significativement différente (p <0,05), d’une commune à l’autre et aucune différence significative n’a été observée, quelque soit le type de farine analysé. Par ailleurs, aucune souche émétique n’a été détectée dans ces farines.Mots clés : Bacillus cereus, farine, pathogène, souche émétique.

Bacillus cereus responses to acid stress

Coping with acid environments is one of the prerequisites for the soil saprophytic and human pathogenic lifestyle of Bacillus cereus. This minireview highlights novel insights in the responses displayed by vegetative cells and germinating spores of B. cereus upon exposure to low pH as well as organic acids, including acetic acid, lactic acid and sorbic acid. Insights regarding the possible acid-inflicted damage, physiological responses and protective mechanisms have been compiled based on single cell fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry and transcriptome analyses