Botulinum | Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin is a protein that was produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and is considered the most powerful neurotoxin ever discovered. Botulinum toxin causes botulism poisoning, a severe and life threatening disease in humans and in monkeys animals.When introduced intravenously, type A (Botox Cosmetic) of the toxin has an LD50 of 40-56 ng, about 32 ng type C1, type D 3200 ng and type E 88 ng, so that the above-mentioned types, some of the most powerful neurotoxins known known.Popularly by its trade name, Botox or Dysport, it is used for various cosmetic and medical procedures.



A disease that produced by the exotoxin of Clostridium botulinum and other clostridia occasionally, and is characterized by paralysis and other neurological abnormalities. There are seven main toxin types involved (AG), only types A, B, E and F in human disease brought together. Types C and D to produce disease in birds and mammals. Strains of C. Barati and C. butyricum were found to produce toxins E and F and in infant botulism have been linked. See also virulence.

The three clinical forms of botulism are classical botulism, wound botulism and infant botulism. Classical botulism is usually by ingestion of preformed toxin, infant botulism includes revenue of C. botulinum spores and subsequent germination and toxin production in the gastro-intestinal tract and wound botulism involves the production of toxin by the organism to infect or colonize the wound. The incubation period varies from a few hours to more than a week (but usually 1-2 days), absorbed depends mainly on the amount of the toxin or not. It is classic acute bilateral cranial nerve impairment and subsequent symmetrical descending paralysis or weakness. Are mentioned frequently dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dry mouth, diplopia (double vision), dysarthria (a neuromuscular disorder that speech) and blurred vision. Nausea, vomiting, and fatigue are common as well. Ileus (impaired motility), and constipation than diarrhea are much more typical, there may also be urinary retention and dry mucous membranes. Central nervous system function and sensation remain intact, and fever will not occur in the absence of complications. Fever may be absent even in wound botulism. See also toxin. In food-borne botulism are home-canned or home processed foods (especially vegetables) often involved, rarely involved with commercial canning. Outbreaks usually only one or two people but can affect dozens. Infant botulism in honey and corn syrup have implicated as vehicles. Treatment includes measures to prevent the body absorbed toxin neutralization unfixed toxin by antitoxin and adequate intensive care unit to free support. See also food poisoning, poison.