title: [Development of an in vitro assay for the detection of Botulinum Neurotoxins]
abstract: Botulism is a severe, often lethal intoxication, which affects man and animal. It is caused by the neurotoxins (BoNT) of Clostridium botulinum, an anaerobic spore-former. At present the toxin types A-G have been identified. The extreme toxicity of these substances still make the animal testing inevitable. No alternative method could reach the sensitivity of the mouse bioassay. Based on the investigations presented, a serological test shall be developed, which concentrates the sample and detects the toxin in one step. Preliminary results of an in vitro test detecting BoNT/D are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Pflanzenbau und Tierproduktion in den Tropen und Subtropen, Bereich Tierhygiene, Georg-August-Universität, D-Göttingen.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gessler
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Loch
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Böhnel