Definition

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by the potent toxin of the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. There are three main types of botulism: foodborne botulism, infant botulism, and wound botulism.

Description

Botulism was first identified in Wildbad, Germany, in 1793, when six people died after consuming a locally produced blood sausage. In 1829, Jutinius Kerner, a health official, described 230 cases of sausage poisoning. Thereafter, the illness became known as "botulism," which is derived from the Latin "botulus," meaning sausage. In 1897, E. Van Ermengem identified the bacterium and its toxin while investigating an outbreak of the disease among musicians in Elezells, Belgium.

C. botulinum is a spore-forming, anaerobic, grampositive bacilli found globally in soil and honey. The toxin has recently gain notoriety. It is a potential bioterrorism agent, and it is used as a beauty...