Mechanisms of Bacillus cereus enteropathy

Three strains of Bacillus cereus isolated from sausages (Salami and Trekker, RANBAC, Ranchi) produced enterotoxin which caused vascular permeability in skin and haemorrhage in the ligated ileal loops of rabbits. Histopathological studies revealed haemorrhage and congestion in submucosa, mononuclear cell infiltration in lamina propria and submucosa and villous atrophy. Histochemical studies ruled out the effect on mitochondrial enzymes of intestinal epithelial cells. Purified enterotoxin given intradermally to rabbits caused severe necrotic reaction at the site of injection and death within 4 hr. Histopathological changes observed in liver included congestion of portal veins and sinusoids, vacuolar degeneration of hepatocytes, and hyperplasia of bile ducts. These suggested that B. cereus enterotoxin affected the capillaries of blood vessels locally and also systemically resulting into release of proteinaceous exudates and red blood cells.