Medycyna Wet. 65 (11), 743-746, 2009
| Grenda T., Kwiatek K. |
| Clostridium botulinum – characteristic features and epidemiological significance |
| Bacteria from the species of Clostridium botulinum are spore – forming, gram – positive, anaerobic rods, which have ability to produce the most potent toxin in environment. Botulinum toxins are the etiologic factors of botulism in humans and animals. Lethal dose of botulinum toxin for mouse is about 0,3 ng/kg , whilst lethal dose for human is ranged from 0,2 µg/kg to 2 µg/kg. Historically, differentiation of Clostridium botulinum strains is based on their ability to produce one of the seven botulinum toxins marked by the letters from A to G. Nowadays, classification based on ability to produce botulinum toxins is not only one of the taxonomic criteria. Strains of C. botulinum are also divided into four groups which have different metabolic and culture features. However, botulism is seldom occurring disease but outbreaks of botulism are difficult to control and causing economic losses in livestock. The most susceptible species to botulism are cattle and birds. The aim of this article is the characteristic of Clostridium botulinum, botulinum toxins, their action and botulism as disease in some species of animals. |
| Keywords: Clostridium botulinum, botulism in animals, botulinum toxin |