title: Botulism in Brazil, 2000-2008: epidemiology, clinical findings and laboratorial diagnosis.
abstract: Botulism is a rare and potentially lethal illness caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin. We describe the findings of a laboratorial investigation of 117 suspected cases of botulism reported to the surveillance system in Brazil from January 2000 to October 2008. Data on the number and type of samples analyzed, type of toxins identified, reporting of the number of botulism cases and transmission sources are discussed. A total of 193 clinical samples and 81 food samples were analyzed for detection and identification of the botulism neurotoxin. Among the clinical samples, 22 (11.4%) presented the toxin (nine type A, five type AB and eight with an unidentified type); in food samples, eight (9.9%) were positive for the toxin (five type A, one type AB and two with an unidentified type). Of the 38 cases of suspected botulism in Brazil, 27 were confirmed by a mouse bioassay. Laboratorial botulism diagnosis is an important procedure to elucidate cases, especially food-borne botulism, to confirm clinical diagnosis and to identify toxins in food, helping sanitary control measures.
authors: Food Microbiology Laboratory, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. rrowlands@usp.br
authors: Ruth Estela Gravato
authors: RE
authors: Rowlands
authors: Christiane Asturiano
authors: CA
authors: Ristori
authors: Giselle Ibette S Lopez
authors: GI
authors: Lopes
authors: Ana Maria Ramalho de
authors: AM
authors: Paula
authors: Harumi
authors: H
authors: Sakuma
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Grigaliunas
authors: Roberto
authors: R
authors: Lopreato Filho
authors: Dilma Scala
authors: DS
authors: Gelli
authors: Maria Bernadete de Paula
authors: MB
authors: Eduardo
authors: Miyoko
authors: M
authors: Jakabi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000032:analysis*; D001906:Botulism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: C096323:rimabotulinumtoxinB; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A