Final answer:
Staphylococcal food intoxication is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. These heat-stable enterotoxins result in symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea and can persist in food despite cooking. option (D)
Step-by-step explanation:
Staphylococcal food intoxication, a common cause of food-borne illness, is caused by a toxin produced by bacteria. Specifically, it is caused by toxins produced by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. There are at least 21 Staphylococcal enterotoxins, which are heat stable proteins that can survive boiling temperatures and are resistant to low pH, meaning they can pass through the stomach without being destroyed. These enterotoxins can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, and more.
Consumption of food such as raw or undercooked meat or dairy products contaminated with these toxins can lead to staphylococcal food poisoning, an intoxication where bacteria have produced toxins in the food prior to ingestion. Even if the bacteria are killed, the toxins present in the food can still cause significant gastrointestinal illness. This is different from an infection, where the live bacteria colonize the gut and then produce toxins.