It has been suggested that SEs stimulate neuroreceptors in the intestinal tract which transmit
stimuli to the vomiting centre of the brain via the vagus nerve (Montville and Matthews 2008;
Argudin et al. 2010). In addition, SEs are able to penetrate the lining of the gut and stimulate
the host immune response. The release of inflammatory mediators, such as histamine,
causes vomiting. The host immune response also appears to be responsible for the damage
to the gastrointestinal tract associated with SE ingestion, with lesions occurring in the
stomach and upper part of the small intestine. Diarrhoea that can be associated with
staphylococcal food poisoning may be due to the inhibition of water and electrolyte reabsorption
in the small intestine