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Background: Botulism is a low incidence but potentially fatal infectious disease caused by neurotoxins produced mainly by Clostridium botulinum. There are different routes of acquisition, food-borne and infant/intestinal being the most frequent presentation, and antitoxin is the treatment of choice in all cases. In Spain, botulism is under surveillance, and case reporting is mandatory. Methods: This retrospective study attempts to provide a more complete picture of the epidemiology of botulism in Spain from 1997 to 2019 and an assessment of the treatment, including the relationship between a delay in antitoxin administration and the length of hospitalization using the Cox proportional hazards test and Kruskal–Wallis test, and an approach to the frequency of adverse events, issues for which no previous national data have been published. Results: Eight of the 44 outbreaks were associated with contaminated commercial foods involving ≤7 cases/outbreak; preserved vegetables were the main source of infection, followed by fish products; early antitoxin administration significantly reduces the hospital stay, and adverse reactions to the antitoxin affect around 3% of treated cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulism is a rare but severe disease which is characterized by paralysis and inhibition of secretions. Only a few cases had been reported at the end of the 19th century in France. The disease was frequent during the second world war, and then the incidence decreased progressively. However, human botulism is still present in France with 10–25 cases every year. Food-borne botulism was the main form of botulism in France, whereas infant botulism (17 cases between 2004 and 2016) was rare, and wound and inhalational botulism were exceptional. Type B was the prevalent botulism type and was mainly due to consumption of home-made or small-scale preparations of cured ham and to a lesser extent other pork meat products. In the recent period (2000–2016), a wider diversity of botulism types from various food origin including industrial foods was reported. Severe cases of type A and F botulism as well as type E botulism were more frequent. Albeit rare, the severity of botulism justifies its continued surveillance and recommendations to food industry and consumers regarding food hygiene and preservation practices.

Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic illness which is difficult to diagnose accurately, especially in children. We report a child with type A botulism intoxication, with very rapid progression to coma-like consciousness and respiratory failure. Careful physical examinations led to the suspicion of botulism, and electrophysiologic examinations, including electroencephalogram and repetitive nerve stimulation tests, further supported the diagnosis. Hospitalization due to botulism had a great emotional impact on the patient and psychological support was crucial.

Botulism is a rare cause of neuroparalysis. Delay in diagnosis and treatment exerts adverse impact on mortality and morbidity. We report a child with complete flaccid paralysis followed by progression to coma-like consciousness. The patient required mechanical ventilation. As serological tests could not be performed, detailed history and physical examinations led to the suspicion of botulism, and repetitive nerve stimulation tests supported the diagnosis. Botulinum antitoxin was administered. The patient's neuromuscular function improved rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2023, a botulism outbreak affecting 15 individuals occurred in Bordeaux, France, during the Rugby World Cup. We report on eight individuals from four different countries on two continents admitted to the intensive care unit at our hospital, where six required invasive mechanical ventilation. Cases reported consuming locally produced canned sardines at a restaurant. This report highlights the importance of rapid, worldwide alerts from health authorities to prevent severe consequences of such outbreaks, particularly during events attracting international visitors.

Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic illness which is difficult to diagnose accurately, especially in children. We report a child with type A botulism intoxication, with very rapid progression to coma-like consciousness and respiratory failure. Careful physical examinations led to the suspicion of botulism, and electrophysiologic examinations, including electroencephalogram and repetitive nerve stimulation tests, further supported the diagnosis. Hospitalization due to botulism had a great emotional impact on the patient and psychological support was crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is produced as a large toxin complex (TC) associated with nontoxic nonhemagglutinin (NTNHA) and three hemagglutinin subcomponents (HA-70, -33 and -17). To assess the role of nontoxic components in the oral intoxication of botulinum TCs, we investigated the permeability of serotype D strain 4947 BoNT and its various TC species through cultured Caco-2 cell monolayers. The L-TC species (complexes composed of BoNT, NTNHA, HA-70, HA-33 and HA-17) showed potent permeability through the cell layer, whereas free BoNT, M-TC (BoNT and NTNHA complexes) and M-TC/HA-70 showed little or no permeability. Cell binding tests demonstrated that HA-33/HA-17 complexes bound to cells, whereas other components did not. These findings suggest that BoNT in the 650-kDa L-TC permeates into the cell mainly in an HA-33/HA-17-mediated manner, although free BoNT can permeate into the cell. As free BoNT and M-TC were susceptible to digestion with gastrointestinal juice, it is likely that L-TC species containing HA-33 caused higher oral toxicity in mice than others. We conclude that the HA-33 subcomponent plays a critical role in the permeation of TCs into intestinal epithelium, and that other HA subcomponents protect BoNT against gastrointestinal digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: In March 2012, two patients were transported urgently to the hospital in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, because of symptoms suggestive of botulism. Botulinum neurotoxin type A was detected in the clinical specimens and the food consumed by the two patients (vacuum packed adzuki-batto, a sweet adzuki bean soup containing noodles). We were able to make a prompt diagnosis of food botulism associated with the consumption of adzuki-batto, from which the causative pathogen Clostridium botulinum Ab was cultured. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Botulism is a rare but severe disease which is characterized by paralysis and inhibition of secretions. Only a few cases had been reported at the end of the 19th century in France. The disease was frequent during the second world war, and then the incidence decreased progressively. However, human botulism is still present in France with 10–25 cases every year. Food-borne botulism was the main form of botulism in France, whereas infant botulism (17 cases between 2004 and 2016) was rare, and wound and inhalational botulism were exceptional. Type B was the prevalent botulism type and was mainly due to consumption of home-made or small-scale preparations of cured ham and to a lesser extent other pork meat products. In the recent period (2000–2016), a wider diversity of botulism types from various food origin including industrial foods was reported. Severe cases of type A and F botulism as well as type E botulism were more frequent. Albeit rare, the severity of botulism justifies its continued surveillance and recommendations to food industry and consumers regarding food hygiene and preservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the epidemiology of food-borne botulism in Puglia, Italy, between 1977-2017, using surveillance data and Experts' personal observations. As the disease is rare, the diagnosis is often missed or delayed, and cases are initially misdiagnosed. This was the case of a family outbreak of botulism in the 1970s.

Background: Use of honey pacifiers by infants presenting to a pediatric clinic at a county hospital in Houston, Texas, was observed by several of our staff members. Although we could not find any published studies linking the use of honey pacifiers to infant botulism, we also could not find any studies assessing the prevalence of honey pacifier use in general., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive study using a novel survey that had 19 items. The survey was administered to the parents of children up to age 12 months presenting to a county hospital pediatric clinic for well-child care in Houston, Texas, from February 2010 to April 2011., Results: There were 397 respondents. Approximately 11% of the respondents reported using honey pacifiers with their infant children. Reasons for use included tradition, infant preference, and perceived health benefits (eg, helps with constipation or colic). Approximately 20% of the honey pacifier users and 23% of the entire group reported knowledge of honey potentially causing an illness in children <12 months of age. Nearly 40% of all respondents also reported using herbal or folk remedies., Conclusions: Honey pacifier use was relatively common among this population, seen in ∼1 out of 10 respondents. A majority of the mothers surveyed (∼80%) were unaware of the potential dangers of giving honey to infants under age 12 months. Herbal medicine use was also common.