A person has episodes of vomiting 6 hrs after consuming milk. Organism responsible for this may be: March 2009

Ans. B: Bacillus cereus and D: Staphylococcus Incubation period of food poisoning due to: Clostridium perfringenes: 6-24 hours Bacillus cereus-It produces atleast 2 distinct enterotoxins. One, the emetic form with a sho incubation period (1-6 hours) characterized by predominantly upper gastrointestinal tract symptoms, rather like staphylococcal food poisoning. The other, the diarrheal form, with a longer incubation period (12-24 hours) characterized by predominantly lower intestinal symptoms like clostridium perfringenes food poisoning. The toxins are preformed and stable. Salmonella typhi- 12-24 hours Staphylococcus- 1-6 hours. The incubation is sho because of preformed toxins.