Bio II Bacteria Paper: Clostridium Botulinum Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that causes the illness, in humans known as botulism (Smith and Sugiyama, 1988). It produces a potent neurotoxin called botulinum toxin that causes botulism or foodborne botulism. The spores are heat resistant and can survive in foods that are incorrectly or poorly processed (FDA). There are seven recognized types of botulism (A-G) but only A, B, E, and F cause human botulism (FDA). The first case of foodborne botulism was in Ellezellesin, Belgium in December 14, 1895. Thirty-four musicians had a meal at a local inn and all consumed a ham that had been infected by Clostridium Botulinum. Following the meal, the musicians
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botulism affects people of all ages. There are four main types of human botulism foodborne botulism, infant botulism, wound botulism, and adult infectious botulism (FDA). Foodborne botulism is a life threatening but rare disease resulting from consumption of the botulinum toxin in food, with as little as 30 ng of toxin sufficient to cause illness and even death (Giuseppe). Foods that are most frequently involved in cases of botulism are home-preserved foods, especially canned-vegetables. In the past, cases related to the consumption of canned fish and meat have been described, and among these, cured hams have been identified as the cause of botulism (Giuseppe). The symptoms of foodborne botulism begin usually 12 to 36 hours after ingestion of the food containing botulinum toxin, but some cases have varied from hours to days (Mayo Clinic). Early signs consist of marked lassitude, weakness, usually followed by double vision and progressive difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal pain, and constipation may also be common …show more content…
The illness is caused when C. botulinum on its own or with other microorganisms infects a wound and produces the botulinum toxin which reaches other parts of the body for example, the blood stream. Most people who develop wound botulism are needle drug users who share and use the needles often, so it's difficult to know how they got it and how long it will take for it to begin affecting the body. The symptoms of wound botulism include Difficulty swallowing or speaking, Facial weakness on both sides of the face, Blurred or double vision, Drooping eyelids, Trouble breathing, and Paralysis (Mayo
botulism affects people of all ages. There are four main types of human botulism foodborne botulism, infant botulism, wound botulism, and adult infectious botulism (FDA). Foodborne botulism is a life threatening but rare disease resulting from consumption of the botulinum toxin in food, with as little as 30 ng of toxin sufficient to cause illness and even death (Giuseppe). Foods that are most frequently involved in cases of botulism are home-preserved foods, especially canned-vegetables. In the past, cases related to the consumption of canned fish and meat have been described, and among these, cured hams have been identified as the cause of botulism (Giuseppe). The symptoms of foodborne botulism begin usually 12 to 36 hours after ingestion of the food containing botulinum toxin, but some cases have varied from hours to days (Mayo Clinic). Early signs consist of marked lassitude, weakness, usually followed by double vision and progressive difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal pain, and constipation may also be common …show more content…
The illness is caused when C. botulinum on its own or with other microorganisms infects a wound and produces the botulinum toxin which reaches other parts of the body for example, the blood stream. Most people who develop wound botulism are needle drug users who share and use the needles often, so it's difficult to know how they got it and how long it will take for it to begin affecting the body. The symptoms of wound botulism include Difficulty swallowing or speaking, Facial weakness on both sides of the face, Blurred or double vision, Drooping eyelids, Trouble breathing, and Paralysis (Mayo