Analysis of the VIDAS® Staph Enterotoxin III (SET3) for Detection of Staphylococcal Enterotoxins G, H, and I in Foods.

BACKGROUND

Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) frequently causes illnesses worldwide. SFP occurs from the ingestion of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) preformed in foods by enterotoxigenic strains of Staphylococcus species, primarily S. aureus. SEG, SEH, and SEI induce emesis and have been implicated in outbreaks. Immunological-based methods are deemed the most practical methods for the routine analysis of SEs in foods given their ease of use, sensitivity, specificity, and commercial availability. These kits are routinely used to test for SEA-SEE. However, only recently has a kit been developed to detect SEG, SEH, and SEI.

OBJECTIVE

Our research examined the performance of the novel VIDAS&REG Staph Enterotoxin III (SET3) for the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxins SEG, SEH, and SEI in foods.

METHODS

Here we assess the sensitivity and specificity of SET3 using duplicate test portions of six foods at varying concentrations of inclusivity and exclusivity inocula: pure SEG, SEH, SEI, S. aureus strain extracts positive for seg, seh, and sei, as well as SEA, SEB, SEC, SED, and SEE.

RESULTS

The overall detection limit was less than 2.09 ng/mL for foods inoculated with SEG, SEH, and SEI, with no cross reactivity observed.

HIGHLIGHTS: Integrating concurrent testing to detect the presence of SEA-SEE and SEG-SEI utilizing the SET3 along with the VIDAS SET2, Ridascreen® SET total, or other comparable kits will be instrumental for the future food assessments in our laboratory and may become the new standard for SE analysis of foods.