Comparison of two commercial kits for the detection of enterotoxins produced byStaphylococcus aureusstrains isolated from foods

Fifty‐two biotyped and phage‐typed Staphylococcus aureus strains previously tested for enterotoxin production by reversed passive latex agglutination were examined with a new ‘sandwich type’ SET‐ELISA kit designed to detect simultaneously five staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE). The strains were isolated from beef forequarters and meat cuts in Zaïre. The enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay detected four additional SEE producers belonging to the human or non‐host‐specific biotypes (phage group III or not typable). Both methods, with the same cost per analysis, very good reliability and repeatibility, are easy to use for routine work. The tested SET‐ELISA kit is particularly convenient for serial analyses but requires some training for the visual interpretation of the results.