CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM

Known as: C Botulinum

About: Anaerobic pathogenic bacteria 

Microscope: Rod shaped with ability to produce spores

What can it do: Clostridium Botulinum is life threatening and can attack the nervous system with neurotoxins. This highly toxic bacteria causes a condition called botulism whereby even tiny microscopic amounts can cause serious illness and can be fatal. The neurotoxin caused by C Botulinum is one of the most toxic substances known. There are several types of illness caused by this bacteria and they are labelled A-G. Only types A, B, E and F will go on and cause illness in humans. Other strains affect animals.  C Botulinum can remain dormant for years, waiting for the right conditions to activate and spread. Because C Botulinum can only function in anaerobic conditions, oxygen is toxic to it's cells, but it thrives in environments that are closed to oxygen, such as tin cans with food in

Help: If C Botulinum is suspected the person must be hospitalised immediately and undergo antitoxin therapy under the care of medical professionals. Unfortunately antitoxin treatment is not possible for all people and so the best action is to prevent exposure rather than have to treat a very serious and potentially fatal illness.  

Infectious rating: C Botulinum is not passed directly from person to person. The bacteria spreads via spores that then develop when the conditions allow. The human then ingests or attains the bacteria via a wound entry, or by eating or drinking infected food items.  C Botulinum can be killed by heat and so if in doubt, food should be boiled continuously at 100 degrees C for not less than 10 minutes to remove the risk from ingesting the bacteria by food.  

I feel sick: C Botulinum causes serious illness and symptoms include a range of neurological, gastrointestinal and respiratory effects.  First symptoms may be nausea, dizziness, weakness and vomiting if the bacteria enters the system via the digestive system by food. The bacteria can also attack the body via a wound site, such as when a person is injecting with a needle. Infant botulism is usually caused by the bacteria entering an infants body after digesting a food such as honey. The disease can progress quickly and cause visual impairment, muscle weakness and problems with co-ordination, trouble breathing, blurred vision and difficulty swallowing or speaking. The most likely cause of death by C Botulinum will be respiratory failure. 

 

Lung symptoms: Difficulty breathing and ultimately respiratory failure. 

Tummy/intestine symptoms Constipation, diarrhoea, and abdominal pain. 

C Botulium is prevalent  in North America, Europe and Australia with different strains of the bacteria thriving according to the different environments .