Botulism

1. Botulism • Botulism is a serious illness that causes flaccid paralysis of the muscles. • Its causative agent is the neurotoxin botulinum toxin, produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. • About 1,000 cases are reported worldwide every year. An average of 110 cases are reported annually in the United States. • Botulinum toxin paralyzes the nerves, prohibiting the contraction of the muscles. • Symptoms include muscle weakness, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, blurred and/or double vision, drooping eyelids, and slurred speech. • Gag reflexes and deep tendon reflexes can also be affected.

2. There are 6 ways in which botulism can be transmitted. Food-borne botulism - caused by eating foods containing botulinum neurotoxin. Wound botulism – neurotoxin produced when wound is infected by Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism – occurs when an infant consumes spores of the botulinum bacteria. Adult intestinal colonization – the bacteria infects the intestines of people with abnormal bowels. Inhalation botulism – occurs in laboratory personnel who inhale the neurotoxins Injection botulism – patients are injected with high amounts of therapeutic neurotoxins. All six are potentially fatal. Transmission of Botulism

3. Kingdom – Eubacteria Division – Firmicutes Class – Clostridia Order – Clostridiales Family – Clostridiaceae Genus – Clostridium Species – C. botulinum A popular form of injection botulism is Botox. People have the diluted botulinum toxin injected to stop muscle contractions, thus preventing wrinkles Botulism can also be used to treat certain muscle contracting diseases, like spasmodic dysphonia. Classificationand Historical Significance