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24 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Scientific name
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Clostridium botulinum
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Disease name
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Botulism
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Domain
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Bacteria
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Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic
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Prokaryotic
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Gram stain and Morphology
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Gram Positive, Bacillus
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Spores? If yes, what kind?
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Yes, large subterminal
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Motility? If yes, by what means?
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Yes, peritrichous flagella
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Oxygen Requirements
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Obligately anaerobic
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Distinguishing Features
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Most dangerous foodborne poisoning in humans. One pint of pure toxin could kill everyone in the world.
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Pathogenic Properties
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Powerful exotoxin; neurotoxin that blocks nerve inpulses from passing into muscle (can't contract), causes flaccid paralysis
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Geographic occurrence
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Worldwide
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High Risk Individuals
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People who eat improperly processed foods
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Reservoir
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Soil, fresh water sediments, intestines of some animals
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Parts of body infected
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Nervous system
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Method of transmission
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A. Ingestion of contaminated food
B. Infant botulism (spores in honey) C. Wound botulism (toxins absorbed in bloodstream) |
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Portals of entry
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Mouth (usually)
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Incubation period
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12-72 hours, depending on the dosage
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Period of illness
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Acute: 1-10 days
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Contagious period
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Not contagious
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Symptoms
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Flaccid paralysis, causing blurred/double vision, slurred speech, trouble swallowing, difficulty breathing, flabby muscles, powerful thirst
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Serious complications
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Death
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Diagnostic Methods
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ID in contaminated food; patient's serum
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Prevention
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Adequate processing of low-acid foods; don't feed honey to infants under 1 year; vaccine for high risk lab workers
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Vaccine?
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Yes
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