Botulism history

The history of the development of antitoxins in combating bacterial infection dates back to the early beginnings of organized bacteriology. Belrring was tile first to show that animals that were immune to diphtheria contained, in their serum, factors which were capable of neutralizing the poisonous effect of the toxins derived from the diphtheria bacillus. While this work was earned out in 1890, prior to many of the great discoveries of mass immunization, and much later the antibiotics, there yet remains a place for antitoxins in medical treatment or prophylaxis for some diseases, such as tetanus and botulism,... 

Erbguth FJ and Naumann M (2000) On the first systematic descriptions of botulism and botulinum toxin by Justinus Kerner (1786-1862). Journal of the History of the Neurosciences 9(2) 218-220. 

The least common form of human botulism, botulism from intestinal colonization, includes cases in patients greater than 1 year of age not associated with ingestion of contaminated food or wound infection with the only possibility being intestinal colonization (38). Stool in these patients will contain toxin and C. botulinum, and the suspected food may contain spores without preformed toxin. Some cases occur in patients with a history of gastrointestinal surgery or inflammatory bowel disease, conditions that could support enteric colonization of B. botulinum (38). In 2001, in the United States, one case of adult colonization botulism occurred in a 45 year old who survived (39). 

History/appUcaliai notes Nitrites used to prevent botulism in hams and other meat products... 

The history of botulism, the chemistry and pharmacology of the toxin, and the occurrence and growth of Cl. botulinum have all been extensively reviewed in recent years This paper summarises new data on the incidence of botulism and considers some of the ways by which control of Cl. botulinum may be effected in foods. 

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