DETECTION OF TOXIGENIC STRAIN OF THE SPECIES IN THE BACILLUS CEREUS GROUP IN INFANT MILK FORMULA BY PCR METHOD

Background and Aim: Bacillus cereus is an endemic, Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile, beta hemolytic bacterium. Some strains are harmful to humans and cause foodborne illness and it s spore is resistant against difficult condition. In recent years infant feeding methods have changed and an increase in the use of powdered infant formula (PIF) has raised concern about quality and health assessment of PIF. This product can be contaminated with various pathogenic bacteria such as Bacillus cereus. Bacillus cereus is one of the more important causes of food borne disease and produces one emetic toxin and three different enterotoxins. For these reasons presence of B. cereus in PIF is very important.Methods: The aim of this study was evaluate the frequency of B.cereus strains in the PIFs. This study was conducted from May through December of 2014. One hundred and twenty five PIF samples were analyzed for contamination with Bacillus cereus. PIF samples were cultured on B. cereus selective agar and strains were identified with biochemical tests. Results: . Our results of present study showed that 84 (67/2%) PIF samples were contaminated with B. cereus and among them 18 (14/4%) samples were contaminated by more than one B. cereus species. Also prevalence of nhe genes 53/63 % and Em gene 79% was detected. Pasteurization process may not effective against the spore of B.cereus. Conclusion: The spores of this bacterium can remain in PIF and can cause food poisoning in infants. In conclusion quality control and food safety guideline need to be applied in Iranian infant food unites.

کلیدواژه ها:

pif ، toxin