Proteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B in the gastric content of a patient with type E botulism due to whitefish eggs.
Whitefish eggs were confirmed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to cause type E foodborne botulism in a 54-year-old patient in Finland. Botulinum neurotoxin and/or nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum type E organisms were detected in fecal and gastric samples from the patient and in suspected whitefish eggs. Apart from C. botulinum type E, proteolytic type B organisms were detected in the patient's gastric content. This was considered to be insignificant with respect to the clinical disease, suggesting botulinal spores to be occasionally present in the human gastrointestinal tract without any apparent clinical significance. This is the first domestic case of foodborne botulism in Finland.
Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Miia
M
Lindström
Sebastian
S
Hielm
Mari
M
Nevas
Seppo
S
Tuisku
Hannu
H
Korkeala
D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000506:poisoning; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D047014:Clostridium botulinum type B / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D047970:Clostridium botulinum type E / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005387:Finland; D005396:Fish Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010063:Ovum / Q000382:microbiology
D001905:Botulinum Toxins