Incidence and characterization of bacillus cereus isolated From egyptian foods.

Abstract

In this study, 178 strains of Bacillus cereus were isolated from different Egyptian foods. Isolation was performed, using MYP and PEMBA media and confirmed by staining and biochemical tests. B. cereus occurred in 98% of test minced meat, 60% of sausage, 48% of rice grains, 44% of Koshari or ice-cream and 36% of pasteurized milk samples. The characteristics of these B. cereus isolates in terms of biochemical reactions, antibiotic susceptibility, pathogenicity and toxigenicity were studied. B. cereus was especially resistant to polyihyxin, penicillin, carbencillin, chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole.