Powerpoint 6: Clostridium Botulism Flashcards
What type of infection or other can it cause?
- intoxication in adults
- infant toxico-infection: ingestion and proliferation of the organism, internal production of the toxin
- wound botulism: due to anaerobic environment of a deep wound
Can it be used for bioterrorism?
Yes
Are all Clostridium botulinum strains toxic?
Yes
The non-toxic forms , genetically related are different species: C. sporogenes, C.subterminale
What type of toxin is the BoNT?
the neurotoxin
A-B type
-inactive when produced
What is the non-proteolytic Cb
The toxin is activated by being cleaved by the host stomach acid
What is the proteolytic Cb
The bacteria produces the protease that activates the toxin
How are the toxins spread?
Go from gut to the blood to the peripheral nerves
What is acetylcholine responsible for?
Muscle contractions
How does the axon terminal connect to the muscle cells and release acetylcholine?
through SNARE proteins
How does BoNT act?
As a protease and cleaves the SNARE proteins
What does BoNT cause?
Flaccid paralysis
Are the BoNT toxins structurally similar yet immunologically distinct?
How are they distinguished?
yes
given a letter A to G
Into how many groups where Clostridium botulinum divided? DO they correlate with the type of toxin they each produce?
4 groups
no
What are the strains associated with group 1?
- C botulinum A
- Proteolytic strains of B and F
- infects humans
What are the strains associated with group 2?
- C. Botulinum E
- Non-proteolytic strains B and F
What are the strains associated with group 3?
-C. Botulinum C and D
What are the strains associated with group 4?
-C. Botulinum G
How do you detect for C. Botulinum Toxin?
Pour solution into 3 tubes: -no treatment tube -tube boiled for 10 minutes -trypsin added to the tube 2/2 Mice must have pinched waist, labored breathing or die for test to be considered positive
How do you distinguish from antiserum A, B, and F
A and F toxins kill the mouse
B it survives
Apart from proteolytic capacity, how are group 1 and group 2 different?
Group 1: highly thermoresistant spores (37 opt)
Group 2: moderately resistant spores (25 opt)
Note: both also produce lipase
How is the chromosome?
1 circular chromosome
Do they have plasmids?
Yes
Where is the BoNT carried?
chromosome or plasmid
Are spores consumed daily and where are they found?
Yes, found in soil
How does the Cb survive?
Secretes many proteolytic enzymes and transports the degarded agents into the cell.
How many genes for transport have been identified?
300
Can it have waterfowl outbreaks affecting many species including birds?
Yes
Is fever present in infant bot?
No
Wound bot
-concentration makes it harmful ; diluted doses can be therapeutic for muscle tension disorder
Is Cb consumed by adults routinely?
Yes, the healthy gut makes adult resistant to colonization
How can adults become sick?
Ingesting the BoNT toxin
It is found in foods in which bacteroa survives if:
-anaerobic environment
-pH more than 4
