STUDIES WITH STAPHYLOCOCCAL TOXINS: II. THE SPECIFICITY OF ENTEROTOXIN

Abstract

The reported study of the known toxins of six different strains of enterotoxigenic staphylococci of diverse lysin productivity allows the conclusion that the enterotoxin, as indicated by the emetic response of cats, is a specific entity that is distinct from α-, β-, or δ-lysins. Emesis in cats may also be caused by β-lysin if injected in quantities greater than 80 units per kgm. The Dolman kitten test for enterotoxin may be made less equivocal by selective removal of all traces of lysins by boiling of the test specimen followed by incubation in the presence of ascorbic acid. Lysins inactivated by heat, formalin, homologous antitoxins, or ascorbic acid do not cause emesis. Immunization of cats with specific enterotoxic filtrates has demonstrated the existence of antigenically distinct enterotoxins.