Infant botulism. Identification of Clostridium botulinum and its toxins in faeces

Lancet. 1976 Oct 30;2(7992):934-6. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)90894-1.

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum and its toxin were identified in the faeces of four infants, aged 6 to 13 weeks, who had symptoms consistent with botulism. Two cases had type-A toxin and two cases had type-B toxin present in their faeces. No toxin was detectable in sera C. botulinum and toxin could be recovered from faeces more than 8 weeks after admission to hospital. All four cases occurred within a 6-month period. The source of the toxin in these infants may have been in-vivo production from ingested organisms.

MeSH terms

  • Botulinum Toxins / isolation & purification*
  • Botulism / epidemiology
  • Botulism / microbiology*
  • California
  • Clostridium botulinum / isolation & purification*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Honey
  • Humans
  • Infant

Substances

  • Botulinum Toxins