An outbreak of food-borne botulism associated with contaminated locally made cheese in Iran.
Cases of botulism in the northern province of Iran were studied in March and April 1997. A total of 27 patients were affected; 1 patient died. The samples were sent to the Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, for investigation. To identify the food source, several patients were interviewed and a case control investigation was conducted among families of hospitalized patients. Clinical and food specimens were tested. Toxin testing was positive for 37% of serum and stool specimens. Type A botulinal toxin was detected in cheese and Clostridium botulinum type A was isolated from cultures of clinical specimens and the cheese. This is the first documented outbreak of botulism due to Clostridium botulinum type A following consumption of cheese in Iran.
Department of Bacteriology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
M R
MR
Pourshafie
M
M
Saifie
A
A
Shafiee
P
P
Vahdani
M
M
Aslani
J
J
Salemian
D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002611:Cheese / Q000382:microbiology*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology