title: Two cases of foodborne botulism type E and review of epidemiology in France.
abstract: In 1999, two new cases of type E botulism were observed in French hospitals. Since this type of botulism is uncommon in France, the cases prompted a national epidemiological study. Sixteen cases of type E botulism, including the two cases reported here, occurred between 1952 and 1999. The clinical and treatment characteristics of all cases were evaluated, and the results suggest that, despite its rarity, type E botulism should be considered by clinicians in France. Changes in the eating habits of people in France, as in the rest of Europe, with the increased consumption of vacuum-packed fish from endemic areas and decreased consumption of local foodstuffs, could explain the occurrence of the most recent cases.
authors.affiliation: Service de Réanimation Médicale, H pital Charles Nicolle, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Girault
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Korach
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salomon
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moirot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leroy
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bonmarchand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005399:Fishes; D005519:Food Preservation; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans