the aim of the study was the analysis of lithuanian honeys for the presence of the spores of clostridium botulinum. the analyses were performed on multifloral, honeydew, nectar-honeydew, rape, buckwheat, heather and linden honey bought in direct sale. prior to culture on solid media the samples were prepared by supernatant filtration method and cultured in parallel in cooked meat medium (cmm) a...

Clostridium botulinum type A spores were inoculated at a level of 10(7) spores per ml into sterile beef media with protein concentrations of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6% and acidified to pH values of 2.01 to 4.75 with hydrochloric acid or 4.19 to 4.60 with citric acid. All experimental manipulations, including blending, acidification, inoculation, incubation (30 degrees C), and analyses, were conducted in...

Sporulation of Clostridium botulinum 113B in a complex medium supplemented with certain transition metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, or Zn) at 0.01 to 1.0 mM gave spores that were increased two to sevenfold in their contents of the added metals. The contents of calcium, magnesium, and other metals in the purified spores were relatively unchanged. Inclusion of sodium citrate (3 g/liter) in the medium enhanced...

The possible role of the indigenous intestinal microflora in the toxicoinfection of human infant botulism was studied with adult germfree mice. Intraintestinal botulinum monoassociation was consistently produced when mice were fed 10 C. botulinum type A spores. Control germfree mice became enterically infected when placed in the same isolator with, but separated from, animals that had been fed...

Fresh mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) were inoculated in the stem, gill, or cap with Clostridium botulinum spores. They were placed with uninoculated mushrooms in paper board trays, which were then covered and sealed in a polyvinyl chloride stretch film to simulate prepackaged mushrooms available at retail stores. When incubated at 20 C, botulinum toxin could be detected as early as day 3, or 4,...

Five cases of intestinal toxemia botulism in adults were identified within an 18-month period in or near Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We describe findings for 3 of the 5 case-patients. Clinical samples contained Clostridium botulinum spores and botulinum neurotoxins (types A and B) for extended periods (range 41-61 days), indicative of intestinal toxemia botulism. Patients' clinical signs improved...

The prevalence of Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E, and F was determined in 214 fresh fish and environmental samples collected in Northern France. A newly developed PCR-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) used in this survey detected more than 80% of samples inoculated with fewer than 10 C. botulinum spores per 25 g and 100% of samples inoculated with more than 30 C. botulinum spores p...

Introduction Spores of Bacillus and Clostridium species are metabolically dormant and extremely resistant to acute environmental stresses such as heat, desiccation, UV and γ-radiation, mechanical disruption, enzymatic digestion and toxic chemicals. In addition to the spore’s resistance to acute stress, spores can survive for extremely long periods in milder environmental conditions. Indeed, the...

Clostridium botulinum is a dangerous pathogen that forms the highly potent botulinum toxin, which when ingested causes a deadly neuroparalytic disease. The closely related Clostridium sporogenes is occasionally pathogenic, frequently associated with food spoilage and regarded as the non-toxigenic equivalent of Group I C. botulinum. Both species form highly resistant spores that are ubiquitous i...

Endospores of proteolytic type B Clostridium botulinum TMW 2.357 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens TMW 2.479 are currently described as the most high-pressure-resistant bacterial spores relevant to food intoxication and spoilage in combined pressure-temperature applications. The effects of combined pressure (0.1 to 1,400 MPa) and temperature (70 to 120 degrees C) treatments were determined for the...