Quantities of Clostridium botulinum organisms and toxin in feces and presence of Clostridium botulinum toxin in the serum of an infant with botulism.
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.
D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D001906:Botulism / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male
D001905:Botulinum Toxins