Emerging Infectious Diseases
1998
Outbreak of Foodborne Botulism Caused by Clostridium butyricum in India
Sample size: 36
publication
Author Information
Author(s): Rama Chaudhry, Benu Dhawan, Dinesh Kumar, Rajesh Bhatia, J.C Gandhi, R.K. Patel, B.C. Purohit
Primary Institution: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
The outbreak was caused by food contaminated with toxigenic C. butyricum.
Conclusion
This is the first report of neurotoxigenic C. butyricum causing foodborne botulism in India.
Supporting Evidence
- Neurotoxigenic C. butyricum was first reported in 1986.
- Improper storage of food led to contamination with C. butyricum spores.
- Improved surveillance is needed for foodborne diseases.
Takeaway
Some food made people sick because it had bad germs in it. This is the first time we found these germs causing sickness in India.
Methodology
Clinical presentation, response to antitoxin, and isolation of the bacteria from food were used to investigate the outbreak.
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