Botulism, Clostridium Botulinum, Is A Rod Shaped Anaerobic Organism

Botulism is a rare but very serious paralytic illness that is caused by botulinum toxin(potentially deadly neurotoxin) which is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The botulinum toxin can enter the body in 3 main ways: by the ingestion of the toxin from eating foods that contain the botulism toxin (food borne botulism), by the contamination of a wound by the bacterium in which the toxin is produced (wound botulism) and Infant botulism which is caused by consuming the spores of the botulinum bacteria, which then grow in the intestines and release the toxin. The powerful exotoxin (botulinum toxin) leads to secretory diarrhea. All forms of botulism can be fatal and are therefore considered to be

Schwan’s Sales Enterprise had the largest foodborne illness outbreak in history in Marshall, Minnesota around 1994 (Rubenstein, 1998). Cliff Viessman, a tanker truck operator transported a shipment of raw eggs that may have been infected with salmonella bacteria. The suspected contamination was unknown to Viessman’s employees. A foodborne illness is an infection or irritation of the gastrointestinal that caused by food or beverages that contain harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, or chemicals. The company truck was parked and pressure washed to eliminate the bacteria. The next assignment was to transport ice cream mix to the Schwan’s plant (Rubenstein, 1998). Schwan’s company heard about the bacteria that may have affected their product and

Foodborne botulism is transmitted by ingestion of toxin produced in food by C. botulinum. No person to person transmission.

McCarthy, A.L., Stevens, S.K., & Weber, R.A. Bacillus Cereus Fact Sheet (2013) Food Safety Counsel. Retrieved from http://www.foodsafetycounsel.com/fo

American Medical Association. (2004). Foodborne Illnesses Table: Parasitic Agents. Available: http://www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/36/2004_food_table_para.pdf. Last accessed 4th Nov 2012.

It has been identified the highest numbered of reported cases were in infants and children up to 14 years of age5. The most common of all disease was campylobacteriosis which was approximately 69% of cases being reported, followed by cryptosporidiosis which was approximately 115 of cases being reported, salmonellosis which was approximately 8% of cases, and verotoxin producing E. coli which was about 5% of the cases

Clostridium botulinum is a type of bacterium that is one of the main reasons for causing the deadly illness botulism. To

The first case of foodborne botulism was in Ellezellesin, Belgium in December 14, 1895. Thirty-four musicians had a meal at a local inn and all consumed a ham that had been infected by Clostridium Botulinum. Following the meal, all the musicians experienced visual disturbances, generalized weakness, shortness of breath, and difficulty speaking (Maki). Three of the musicians died over seven days and the organs of the musicians who died were given to Emile-Pierre-Marie Van Ermengem, a professor of microbiology and a physician at Ghent (Maki). He conducted a clinical, toxicological, and bacteriologic investigation on the bacteria (Maki). He found that the pig had been slaughtered four months before being served to the musicians and was cut into two separate hams. The ham served at the inn, the one the musicians got sick from, had no signs of microscopic decay but bacteria was found(Maki). The second ham, which the musicians didn’t eat, did not

Clostridium is one of the most common food poisoning in the USA. Also it used the less time for regeneration or multiplication of endospores.

The bacterium that causes this disease is the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which is a spore-forming, gram-positive bacillus that is found in higher concentrations in animal manure and soil (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The most common things that this disease is transmitted through are rusty and dirty nails, knives, tools, animal bites, and wooden splinters (Mayo Clinic). When the bacteria enters an open wound, tiny spores of the bacteria can create a powerful toxin that is called tetanospasmin, which damages your motor neurons; nerves that control your muscles. The result of this toxin existing in your motor neurons can cause muscle stiffness and spasms, which both happen to be two major signs of having the tetanus disease (Mayo Clinic). Women have a higher risk at getting the infection when they are giving birth or having an abortion if the tool that is being used happens to be contaminated. When a baby is born, it is at a higher risk if the tool is dirty that is being used to cut the umbilical cord (World Health

The first strain mentions is the most common type which is foodborne botulism, food borne botulism is caused by eating foods that contain the botulinum toxin; the most frequent source being home-canned foods prepared in an unsafe manner (CDC, 2016). The next type of botulism is wound botulism which is caused by toxin produced from a wound infected with Clostridium botulinum. Injection drugs users are at increased risk for wound botulism. The third type of botulism is infant botulism caused by consuming the spores of the botulinum bacteria, which then grow in the intestines and release toxin (CDC, 2016). Bacteria from the spores can grow and multiply in a baby's intestines, producing a dangerous toxin. The condition can occur in infants up to age 12

Clostridium botulinum has strains ranging from A through E. Humans can get Type E Botulism if the toxin is ingested by eating an infected fish or animal (NYDEC 2015). Infection by botulism does not occur due to swimming in waters where affected fish or wildlife is found. However, cooking may not destroy the toxin, so it is recommended that ingestion of fish or game that show signs of illness be avoided. Symptoms of illness in birds include inability to hold their head up (drowning,) poor posture (dragging wings while standing,) and inability to fly. Affected fish usually die quickly, may swim erratically near the surface of the water, and are often seen washed up on shore.

In everyday life, humans endure micro-organisms, bacteria, and fungi, due to Microbial contamination. This phenomenon occurs frequently, and people are unaware of the causes and effect of what microbial contamination can have to truly offer. By definition microbiological contamination occurs when non-intended or accidental introduction bacteria, yeast, mold, fungi, virus, prions, protozoa or their toxins and by-products is carried from one object to another object, person to person, or from an object to a person. (Sue,2007) Cross-contamination occurs during cooking. Specifically, it occurs when juices from raw meats or germs from unclean objects touch cooked or ready-to-eat foods.(Eleese Cunningham, 2015) or even in equipment at processing facilities not being cleaned properly, for instance, or any of the other numerous and sundry ways food can be mishandled a make it to someone, which can greatly increase the risk of food poisoning. (Danilo Alfaro, 2017) Cross contamination does not only consist of bacteria but furthermore, it consists of a virus or a toxin of some sort. (Danilo Alfaro, 2017). It ranges from complex multicellular eukaryotes to even the most unicellular prokaryotic organism, and at any crack or even any type of opening at West Carleton, there will be definitely living microorganisms being passed along from one person to another unconsciously.

Escherichia coli are commonly found in lower intestine of warm blooded animals. Most E. coli are harmless. The bacteria can be grown easily and its genetics are relatively simple and easy to study, making it the best-studied prokaryotic organism. Certain strains of E. coli can produce toxins that can cause food poisoning when eating unwashed vegetables. (Wikipedia, 2010)

Botulinum toxin is the world’s strongest natural toxin that is created by the growth of clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic bacteria; Botulinum toxin only grows under limited oxygen levels and at temperatures less than 80degreeC. Although botulinum toxin can be ten times more deadly than cyanide and causes botulism, it has many practical medical uses. Botulinum toxin is a protein and has seven structural types. However, only botulinum toxin A and botulinum toxin B have been approved for medical and cosmetic use. Botulinum toxin, most often known for its cosmetic uses such as Botox, has many other medical uses. Some practical uses for botulinum toxin include it being used as a muscle relaxant and pain killer.