title: Foodborne botulism in Canada, 1985-2005.
abstract: During 1985-2005, a total of 91 laboratory-confirmed outbreaks of foodborne botulism occurred in Canada; these outbreaks involved 205 cases and 11 deaths. Of the outbreaks, 75 (86.2%) were caused by Clostridium botulinum type E, followed by types A (7, 8.1%) and B (5, 5.7%). Approximately 85% of the outbreaks occurred in Alaska Native communities, particularly the Inuit of Nunavik in northern Quebec and the First Nations population of the Pacific coast of British Columbia. These populations were predominantly exposed to type E botulinum toxin through the consumption of traditionally prepared marine mammal and fish products. Two botulism outbreaks were attributed to commercial ready-to-eat meat products and 3 to foods served in restaurants; several cases were attributed to non-Native home-prepared foods. Three affected pregnant women delivered healthy infants. Improvements in botulism case identification and early treatment have resulted in a reduction in the case-fatality rate in Canada.
authors.affiliation: Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Leclair
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Judith L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Isaac-Renton
authors.forename: Jean-Francois
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Proulx
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: May-Hadford
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Edie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashton
authors.forename: Sadjia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bekal
authors.forename: Jeffrey M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Farber
authors.forename: Burke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blanchfield
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Austin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000266:history / Q000635:transmission; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D062306:Geography, Medical; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009026:Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Canada; Clostridium botulinum; antitoxin; botulism; foodborne infections; outbreak; serotype; type E botulinum toxin