Clostridium Botulinum

CB

16 cards   |   Total Attempts: 188
  

Cards In This Set

Front Back
What is the typical route of infection for Clostridium Botulinum?
Food intoxication
ingestion of PRE-FORMED toxin - not spore
Where is Clostridium Botulinum usually found?
Canned foods with alkaline pH
Spores germinate in anaerobic environment

Inhaled Clostridium Botulinum is a biological warfare
Wound infections RARELY occur - stomach acid kills it
How many virulence factors for Clostridium Botulinum?
1. Botulinum toxin
Features of botulinum toxin in Clostridium Botulinum
Exotoxin
Heat labile neurotoxin
Similar to tetanospasmin - AB subunit
Surrounded by proteins to resist destruction in GI tract
7 antigenically distinct forms - 4 (A,B,E,F) cause human disease
lethal dose <1microgram
What are the antigenically distinct forms that cause human disease?
A,B,E,F

Type B - common in eastern US
Type A - botulinum, used in Botox
How is botulinum toxin internalized?
Endocytosis - same way as tetanospasmin
Where does the botulinum toxin stay?
Neuromuscular junctions
Where is the toxin absorbed?
Absorbed from small intestine to blood
Travels to neuromuscular junction
How long is the incubation period?
18-96 hours
Depends on how much toxin you eat/ingest
Symptoms
Weakness
Dizziness
Blurred vision
dilated pupils
double vision
dry mouth
constipation
urinary retention
What kind of paralysis occurs?
Extensive paralysis of voluntary muscle
Flaccid paralysis
Recovery and survival of Clostridium Botulinum
Recover- ability to regenerate new nerve ending without toxin

Surviving doesnt provide immunity- amount so small no antibody response

Mortality - 10% with treatment
Infant botulism
Up to 12 years old
Less than 100 cases/year
Spores in honey or dust/dirt
Babies dont have enough acidity to kill spores
Germinate in GI tract and produce toxin
Symptoms of infant botulism
Lethargy
Constipation
Poor muscle tone
Lead to respiratory arrest
SIDS may be related
Treatment of Clostridium Botulinum
Antitoxin for adults comes from horses
Antotoxin for infant comes from Human Botulism Immunoglobulin - BIG
Neutralizes free toxin
Supportice therapy - ventalator

Metronidazole or penicillin???