title: Clostridium botulinum and the ophthalmologist: a review of botulism, including biological warfare ramifications of botulinum toxin.
abstract: The anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum causes disease by elaborating an extremely potent neurotoxin that inhibits release of acetylcholine at presynaptic nerve endings, thereby resulting in a descending flaccid paralysis and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Possible ophthalmological effects of this neurotoxin are many and typically constitute the earliest manifestations of botulism. This review summarizes the medical literature on botulism with regard to historical perspective, epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and treatment. Ophthalmological findings of botulism are tabulated and their frequencies are provided. Finally, the bioterrorism/biologic warfare ramifications of botulinum toxin are briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Caya
mesh_terms: D001694:Biological Warfare; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins