Toxicosis varieties

My interest in zinc was stimulated in the late 1950 s, and for several years I was one of several researchers looking at various aspects of zinc toxicosis in connection with a variety of biological parameters. Beginning in 1961 one area of concentration was the effects of high levels of zinc on calcium and phosphorus status in young rats, and some of the results of studies (7, 8) conducted in our laboratory form the major portion of this paper. 

Herbivores biotransforms xenobiotics from natural or artificial sources to render them harmless. Disarming potentially toxic compounds is termed detoxication, while the term detoxification refers to correcting a state of toxicosis (Johns, 1990). Herbivores degrade secondary plant compounds in a variety of ways, starting in the mouth, and leading to excretion. 

The varieties of Bacillus thuringiensis used commercially survive when injected into mice, and at least one of the purified insecticidal toxins is toxic to mice. Infections of humans have been extremely rare (two recognized cases) and no occurrences of human toxicosis have been reported. From studies involving deliberate ingestion by human subjects, it appears possible, but not likely, that the organism can cause gastroenteritis. Bacillus thuringiensis... 

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