Outbreak of Clostridium butyricum Botulism in India
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
Is Clostridium butyricum responsible for the foodborne botulism outbreak in India?
Conclusion
The outbreak was caused by food contaminated with toxigenic Clostridium butyricum.
Supporting Evidence
- 34 out of 310 students reported symptoms after eating contaminated food.
- Two students died due to the outbreak.
- Botulinum toxin was detected in food samples.
- Neurotoxigenic C. butyricum was isolated from the food implicated in the outbreak.
Takeaway
A group of students got very sick after eating contaminated food, and it turned out that the food had a harmful bacteria called Clostridium butyricum in it.
Methodology
Food samples were tested for botulinum toxin and cultured anaerobically; PCR was used to detect toxin genes.
Limitations
Clinical materials for toxin detection were not submitted, and early serum samples could not be obtained.
Participant Demographics
Students from a residential school in rural Gujrat, India.
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