Proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B in the gastric content of a patient with type E botulism due to whitefish eggs

Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2004 Spring;1(1):53-7. doi: 10.1089/153531404772914464.

Abstract

Whitefish eggs were confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to cause type E foodborne botulism in a 54-year-old patient in Finland. Botulinum neurotoxin and/or nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum type E organisms were detected in fecal and gastric samples from the patient and in suspected whitefish eggs. Apart from C. botulinum type E, proteolytic type B organisms were detected in the patient's gastric content. This was considered to be insignificant with respect to the clinical disease, suggesting botulinal spores to be occasionally present in the human gastrointestinal tract without any apparent clinical significance. This is the first domestic case of foodborne botulism in Finland.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Botulinum Toxins / analysis
  • Botulinum Toxins / poisoning
  • Botulism / diagnosis
  • Botulism / microbiology*
  • Clostridium botulinum type B / isolation & purification*
  • Clostridium botulinum type B / pathogenicity
  • Clostridium botulinum type E / isolation & purification*
  • Clostridium botulinum type E / pathogenicity
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Finland
  • Fish Products / microbiology*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Ovum / microbiology

Substances

  • Botulinum Toxins