Clostridium illness from

Botulism is a potent neurotoxin produced from Clostridium botulinum that is an anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium. There are three different types ofbotulism Foodborne botulism occurs when a person ingests a pre-formed toxin that leads to illness within a few hours or days. Foodborne botulism is a public health emergency because the contaminated food may still be available. Infant botulism occurs in a small number of susceptible infants each year who harbor C. botulinum in their intestinal tract. Wound botulism occurs when wounds are infected with C. botulinum that secretes the toxin. Approximately 100 cases of the three types of botulism are reported within the United States each year about 5 percent are wound botulism, 25 percent are foodborne botulism, and a full 70 percent are infant botulism. Death can result from respiratory failure, but those who survive may have fatigue and shortness of breath for years. 

O Neill, G., Adams, J. E., Bowman, R. A., and Riley, T. V. (1993). A molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile isolates from humans, animals and their environments. Epidemiol. Infect. Ill, 257-264. 

Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are three main kinds of botulism. Foodbome botulism is caused by eating foods that contain the botulism toxin. Wound botulism is caused by toxin produced from a wound infected with Clostridium botulinum. Infant botulism is caused by consuming the spores of the botulinum bacteria, which then grow in the intestines and release toxin. All forms of botulism can be fatal and are considered medical emergencies. Foodbome botulism can be especially dangerous because many people can be poisoned by eating a contaminated food. 

Botulism is a serious neuroparalytic illness that affects humans and various domestic and wild animal and avian species. It is due to the neurotoxic effect of a toxin produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulism is most commonly known as a foodbome intoxication of humans it also can result from growth of the toxigenic organism in a wound or, in the case of infant botulism, from colonization of the intestinal tract. 

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