title: Detection of C. botulinum types in honey by mPCR.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in honey samples using conventional methods and multiplex PCR (mPCR). A total number of 150 honey samples were randomly collected from apiaries, retail shops, weekly open bazaars, and supermarkets in Samsun, Turkey. Of 150 honey samples, 4 (2.6%) were positive for the botulinum neurotoxin gene by mPCR analysis. A total of 4 C. botulinum isolates were obtained from the mPCR positive samples, of which 3 were type A and 1 was type B. No samples were positive regarding the type E and type F neurotoxin genes. This is the first report of type A and type B spores of C. botulinum being detected and isolated in Turkey. This study revealed that some honey samples may present a potential hazard for food borne and infant botulism.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs Univ, Kurupelit/Samsun, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gücükoğlu
authors.forename: Göknur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Çadirci
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alişarli
authors.forename: Onur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kevenk
authors.forename: Tolga
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uyanik
mesh_terms: D001906:Botulism / Q000382:microbiology*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006722:Honey / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013171:Spores, Bacterial; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D009498:Neurotoxins
keywords: Clostridium botulinum; infant botulism; multiplex PCR