Isolation and Development of a Surrogate Bioagent for Analysis of Disease Transmission by Inanimate Objects

Abstract

The phylogenetic nature within the Bacillus group allows Bacillus cereus to be used as a surrogate for Bacillus anthracis research. A total of 96 soil samples were collected in Oklahoma on a path that crossed the ecological dividing line. Pasteurization studies revealed a temperature of 70?C was ideal for treating the soil samples. This temperature eliminated extraneous microbes without inhibiting the germinating potential of B. cereus spores. Temperatures greater than 80?C were needed to inactivate spore germination. An ingestion transmission study utilizing coffee as a source showed the ease of B. cereus contamination and transmission by foodstuffs. An additional study utilized B. cereus contaminated toothbrushes for possible transmission of infection. A third study utilized doorknobs as a source of B. cereus transmission. These studies demonstrated the ease of obtaining a bioagent from an undocumented and untraceable source such as dirt and the subsequent transmission by inanimate objects.