COLLEGE OF VETERINARY

&
ANIMAL SCIENCE , BIKANER
PRESENTATION
ON
BOTULISM

SUBMITTED TODr.RAJANI JOSHI

SUBMITTED BYGAYATRI GUJAR

ROLL NO.8
3rd BVSc. & A.H

A LIL HISTORY.......!!!!
Toxin first demonstrated by
Sir Justius Kerner.
He named it "fatty poison" because
C. botulinum is usually found in meat
products which are not handled correctly.
Kerner (physician) was the first person to conceive a
medical use for the toxin.
Botulism' was created ,form the Latin botulus, this
means sausage.
In 1897, Emile van Ermengem discovered that the
bacteria C. botulinum was the producer of BTX i.e,
Botulinum toxin.

SOME FACTS.....!!!!!!
Neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxins (BoNTs)
produced by bacteria
Clostridium botulinum.
The preformed toxin in the food is absorbed from the
intestinal tract.
Even being a protein, the toxin is not inactivated by
the intestinal proteolytic enzymes.
The toxin primarly affects the cholinergic system and
seems to block release of acetylcholine.
Botulism result in symmetric descending flaccid
paralysis of motor and autonomic nerves always
beginning with the cranial nerves

CLOSTRIDIUM
BOTULINUM

THE MICRO MONSTER....!!!!!!

Caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Quiet small about0.52.0 m wide & 1.622.0 m long .
Anaerobic Gram- positive rod which produces
oval, subterminal endospores.
The endosporcs of C.botuIinum are distributed in soils and
aquatic environments worldwide.
Eight types of Clostridium botulinum are recognized on the basis
of the toxins (A, B, C,CP, D, E, F, G) which they produce.
Germination of endospores, with growth of vegetative cells and
toxin production, occurs in anaerobic locations such as rotting
carcases, decaying vegetation and contaminated canned foods.

THE MONSTER & ITS

WEAPONS...!!!!

FACTS ABOUT BOTULINUM

TOXIN...!!!
Most potent biological toxin known.
A cup is enough to depopulate whole of Earth.
Listed as 6th possible most deadliest weapon for
Biological warfare.
Cannot be cultivated under normal Lab.
Conditions.
Atleast level 2 laboratories are required for
cultivation.

BOTULISM-THE
DISEASE....!!!!

Botulism also known asBotulinus intoxicationis

a rare but sometimes fatalparalyticillness
caused byBotulinum toxin.
Affects a wide range of mammals, birds and fish.
Leads toparalysisthat typically starts with the
muscles of the face and then spreads towards
the limbs.
In severe forms, it leads to paralysis of the
breathing muscles and causesrespiratory
failure.
All suspected cases of botulism are treated
asmedical emergencies, andpublic
healthofficials are usually involved to prevent
further cases from the same source.

BOTULISM IN
HUMANS.....!!!!!!
Can occur in three major formsI. Infant botulism
II. Food borne botulism
III.Wound botulism
. Results in Flaccid paralysis.
. Symptoms includes Dysphagia , urine retention
, Diarrhoea , Diplopia ,Constipation etc.
. Inhalational Botulism may occur but that is an
intentional approach , when the spores are
sprayed in aerosolised form by terrorists.

INFANT
BOTULISM.....

INFANT BOTULISM......!!!!!
First recognized in 1976, and is the most common
form of botulism in the United States.
Infants are susceptible to infant botulism in the first
year of life, with more than 90% of cases occurring
in infants younger than six months.
Honeyis the only known dietary reservoir ofC.
Botulinum spores linked to infant botulism.
Other cases are thought to be caused by acquiring
the spores from the natural environment.
Many infant botulism patients have been
demonstrated to live near a construction site or an
area of soil disturbance.
Infant botulism has been reported in 49 of 50 US
states,and cases have been recognized in 26
countries on five continents

FOOD-BORNE
BOTULISM....!!!!

FOOD-BORNE
BOTULISM....!!!!

Humans

can come into contact

with botulism by
eating improperly canned or
preserved foods that
contain the botulinum toxin.
In Alaska the traditional foods
like fish, fish eggs,
seal, Beaver, Whale accounts for
most Botulism cases.

FOOD-BORNE bOTULISM

WOUND
BOTULISM

WOUND BOTULISM
Occurs when spores inoculate a wound
and anaerobic conditions allow
germination and subsequent production of
the toxin
Associated with IV drug use (rise in black
tar heroine use), and medical equipment.
ex. catheters
Often misdiagnosed as other neurological
syndrome
Least common, but on the rise due to
increase in drug addiction among
youngsters.

BOTULISM IN ANIMALS
Three main manifestations according
to the host infected:-LAMSIEKTE IN CATTLE
-CARRION POISONING IN HORSES
-LIMBERNECK IN BIRDS & WATER
FOWLS
Occurs due to consumption of
preformed toxins present in feed
stuffs , pastures,etc.
Osteophagia in Phosphorus deficit
Cattle results in Lamsiekte.

LIMBERNECK IN BIRDS

LIMBERNECK IN
BIRDS.!!!!!

Flaccid paralysis is usually seen in the legs,

wings, neck and eyelids.
Broiler chickens with the toxicoinfectious form
may also have diarrhea with excess urates.
In Poultry occurs mostly due to consumption of
contaminated feed.
In waterfowls occurs due to eating of dead
invertebrates containinig decayed plant parts.
Paralysis of neck evident,thats why the name
Limberneck.
Due to Drooping of neck by
paralysis,Waterfowls mostly die due to
drowning.

LAMSIEKTE IN CATTLES

LAMSIEKTE IN CATTLE.!!!!!
Most prevelant in African countries.
In other countries reported during Food scarcity
conditions like Famines.
Due to Phosphorus deficiency in Cattles , they
eat or lick carcass & gets intoxicated.
Carcass contains preformed Botulinum toxins
resulting in Botulism.

CARRION POISONING IN
HORSES..!!!!
In horses the muscle
paralysis is progressive
usually begins at the
hindquarters and gradually
moves to the front limbs,
neck, and head.
Death generally occurs 24
to 72 hours after initial
symptoms and results from
respiratory paralysis.
Some foals are found dead
without other clinical
signs.

BOTULISM
OUTBREAK
S

BOTULISM OUTBREAKS.!!!!
1. CASTLEBERRY'S FOOD COMPANY OUTBREAK
Beginning in late June 2007, 8 people contracted
botulism poisoning by eating canned food products
produced byCastleberry's Food Company.
It was later identified the issues included broken
cooking alarms, leaking water valves and
inaccurate temperature devices, all the result of
poor management of the company.
All of the victims were hospitalized and placed on
mechanical ventilation.
The Castleberry's Food Company outbreak was the
first instance of botulism in commercial canned
foods in the United States in over 30 years

BON VIVANT INCIDENT

1971 Bon Vivant botulism case.
On July 2, 1971, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) released a public warning
after learning that a New York man had died and
his wife had become seriously ill due to botulism
after eating a can of Bon Vivant vichyssoise soup.

SYMPTOMS

SYMPTOMS

Poor feeding (weak

sucking)
IN HUMANS
Weak gag
Weak cry
Decreased movement
Appearing lethargic
Flat, blunted facial
expression
Trouble swallowing
Excessive drooling
Muscle weakness
Breathing problems
Ptosis (Drooping
eyelids)
Diarrhea
Blurred vision
Vomiting
Eventual Paralysis

IN ANIMALS

Drooling
Restlessness
Uncoordination
Urine retention
Dysphagia
Sternal recumbency
IN POULTRY AND
WILD BIRDS
Flaccid paralysisis
usually seen in the
legs, wings, neck and
eyelids.

BoNT TOXINS
AS BIOTERRORISM WEAPON

BIOWEAPON
POTENTIAL...!!!

One of top 6 potential biological

warfare agents
Listed as Category A agent by CDC
i.e. Highest priority
Most potent biological toxin known.
A cup is enough to depopulate whole
of Earth.
Listed as 6th possible most deadliest weapon for
Biological warfare.
Cannot be cultivated under normal Lab.
Conditions.
Atleast level 2 laboratories are required for
cultivation.
1 gram of crystalline toxin can kill >1 million

TERRORIST ATTEMPTS...!!!
1.1990-95 Japan
By Japanese Cult Aum Shinrikyo
Obtained C. Botulinum from soil collected in
Northern Japan
Dispersed Botulinum Toxin as aerosols
(spray)
- In downtown Tokyo
- US military bases in Japan
2. 1930s Japanese fed C. botulinum to
prisoners
3.U.S. produced botulinum toxin during WWII
4.Soviet Union spliced genome into other
bacteria
5.1991 Iraq weaponized 19,000L during
Persian Gulf War

DIAGNOSIS
Infant botulism can be diagnosed by testing
of a stool or enema specimen with
the mousebioassay.
A definite diagnosis can be made if botulinum toxin is
identified in the food, stomach or intestinal contents,
vomit or faeces.
The toxin is occasionally found in the blood in peracute
cases.
Botulinum toxin can be detected by a variety of
techniques, includingenzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays(ELISAs),electrochemiluminescent(ECL) tests
and mouse inoculation or feeding trials.
In toxicoinfectious botulism, the organism can be
cultured from tissues.
Toxin neutralization mouse bioassay
-serum, stool, gastric aspirate, suspected foods.

TREATMENT
Two primary botulinum antitoxins available for
treatment of wound and foodborne botulism- Trivalent (A,B,E) botulinum antitoxin
-Heptavalent(A,B,C,D,E,F,G)
botulinum antitoxin
Mechanical respirator is administrated if
necessary.
The only drug currently available to treat
infant botulism is Botulism Immune Globulin
Intravenous-Human (BIG-IV or BabyBIG)
developed by
the Infant Botulism Treatment and
Prevention Program at the
California Department of Public Health.

VACCINES AGAINST BOTULISM...!!!

Botulinum pentavalent toxoid
-Not available to general public
-Limited supply provided by CDC
-In use for laboratory
workers, military
-Protects vs. types A-E
-Long-lasting immunitY
-Prohibits future
therapeutic use of Toxin

THE POSITIVE SIDE...!!!!

THE SMART STUFF....!!!

First biological toxin used for treatment of
human disease

Manufactured for medical use in 1989 under

name Oculinum

- Licensed for treatment of strabismus and

blepharospasm (eye conditions characterized by
excessive muscle contraction)
BoNT B manufactured for treatment of cervical
dystonia in 2000 as Myobloc

In 1994 FDA denounced the promotion of

BoNT use for wrinkles as "an egregious
example of promoting a potentially toxic
biologic for cosmetic purposes."
-Botox approved for Cosmetic use in April, 2002

BOTULINUM TOXIN: A POISON THAT

CAN HEAL
-Now adays, the toxin has
been successfully
employeed in treating:
-Strabismus (Crossed
eyes),
-Achalasia (a swallowing
disorder);
-Blepharospasm (excessive
blinking),
-Hyperhidrosis (excessive
sweating),
-Migraine
-Spasticity - velocitydependent increase in

PREVENTION...!!!!!

HOW TO PREVENT
BOTULISM..????
Boil home-canned foods 10 minutes
Follow USDA
instructions on
home-canning
Restrict honey
from < 1 year old
Seek medical
care for wounds
Avoid injectable
street drugs

THATS ALL

THANK
U