Botulism

Presentation

Gabriela Pontes de Sousa

Botulism Latin: botulus = sausage Is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by

botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinium under anaerobic conditions

- Gram-positive Bacillus

- Spores

- Found in soil, vegetables, fruits and

animal feces

Pathogenesis The toxin enters the body in one of three ways:

Infant botulism

Colonization of the digestive tract by the bacterium in

children (honey is a known source of

bacteria spores)

Foodborne

botulismIngestion of toxin

from foods (pH above

4.5)

Wound botulism

Contamination of a wound

by the bacterium

Pathogenesis

The botulinum toxin is absorbed into the bloodstream;

It leaves the circulatory system at the point where a neuron joins a muscle;

The toxin prevents the fusion of synaptic vesicles of acetylcholine

There is no release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, with consequent paralysis of the muscle fiber.

Botulinum Toxin

Symptoms-Developed in 1 to 3 days;

- Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain

-Difficulty swallowing and speaking

-Double vision or blurred vision

-Trouble breathing

-Facial Weakness

-If untreated, symptoms can progress to respiratory failure

Death

Diagnosis

◦ Questioning about the food and drink consumed

◦ Physical exam, including eye and neurological tests.

◦ The diagnosis is confirmed by detection of toxin in blood or stool culture positive for bacteria

◦ The toxin can also be identified in the suspected food

Diagnosedti

me

antitoxin that blocks the action of neurotoxin circulating in the blood

Physicians may remove whatever contaminated food is still in the gut by inducing vomiting or by using enemas

breathing machine (ventilator) for weeks and may require intensive medical and nursing care

BabyBIG (Botulism Immune

Globulin, given IV)

Treatment

BTX-A or BOTOX® Botulinum toxin type-A - BTX-A

Cosmetics

temporarily improve the appearance of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows

less intrusive and/or artificial than other types of plastic surgery

BTX-A or BOTOX®CosmeticsBlepharospasm and strabismusMuscle spasmsUpper motor neuron syndromeSweatingCervical dystoniaChronic Migraine

Prevention Be careful about the

canned foods you eat;

Make sure any homemade canning was prepared and stored properly;

Kill the spores by cooking at 120 °C for 3 minutes;

Acidify canned food;

Do not feed infants with honey

Referenceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botulism

http://acasatorta.wordpress.com/2008/10/26/botulismo

http://www.profpc.com.br/Botulismo_humano.htm

CDC/USA. Botulismo in the United States, 1899-1996 - Handbook for Epidemiologists, Clinicians and Laboratory Workers, Atlanta, 1998.