Quantities of Clostridium botulinum organisms and toxin in feces and presence of Clostridium botulinum toxin in the serum of an infant with botulism

Date

1983

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Paton, J.
Lawrence, A.
Steven, I.

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Journal article

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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 1983; 17(1):13-15

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James C. Paton, Andrew J. Lawrence, and Ian M. Steven

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Abstract

A 7-week-old boy presented with symptoms and signs characteristic of infant botulism, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of Clostridium botulinum type A organisms and toxin in the feces. The levels of organisms and toxin in the feces were measured throughout the 81-day period in hospital. The maximum levels detected were 2.46 x 10(8) C. botulinum type A colony-forming units and 64,000 mouse 100% lethal doses of type A toxin per g (wet weight) of feces. C. botulinum toxin was also detected in two samples of the patient's serum, collected 3 and 10 days after admission. Improvement in the patient's clinical condition occurred before the levels of organisms and toxin in the feces reached their maxima. A slight improvement may also have occurred while toxin was still present in the serum.

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© 1983, American Society for Microbiology

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