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Copyright 1986, 1989, 1990, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2009
NORD is very grateful to Ryan Fagan, MD, MPH, of the Division of Foodborne, Bacterial, and Mycotic Diseases, CDC, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Synonyms of Botulism
Disorder Subdivisions
- Foodborne Botulism
- Infant Botulism
- Wound Botulism
General Discussion
Botulism is a neuromuscular (paralytic) disease caused by a bacterial toxin acting in the intestine (enterotoxin) and causing neuromuscular poisoning (resulting from Clostridium botulinum toxin). There are four generally recognized naturally-occurring types; foodborne, wound, infant, and, rarely, adult intestinal colonization. Foodborne botulism results when C. botulinum produces toxin in contaminated food that is subsequently ingested. Wound botulism occurs when C. botulinum spores germinate and produce toxin in a contaminated wound or abscess. The most common form of botulism in the United States, infant botulism, is caused when ingested C. botulinum spores colonize and subsequently produce toxin in the intestines of affected infants. In rare instances, C. botulinum intestinal colonization and toxin production have also occurred among adults with anatomical or functional bowel abnormalities. Additionally, botulism has infrequently occurred after intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin for treatment of certain dystonias and other disorders. Finally, inhalational botulism, though not naturally-occurring, was reported among three German laboratory workers who inadvertently inhaled aerosolized toxin, and could potentially occur after a deliberate aerosolization of toxin in a bioterrorism event.
Any case of foodborne or unexplained botulism is considered to be a public health emergency because of the potential for toxin-containing foods to injure others who eat them and because of the potential misuse of botulinum toxin as a biological weapon. State and local public health officials by law must be informed immediately whenever botulism is suspected in a human patient.
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Organizations related to Botulism
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta GA 30333
Phone #: 404-639-3534
800 #: 800-232-4636
e-mail: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
Home page: http://www.cdc.gov/
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Consumer Nutrition and Health Information
10903 New Hampshire Ave
Silver Spring MD 20993-0002
Phone #: 301-575-0156
800 #: 888-463-6332
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.fda.gov/Food/LabelingNutrition/ConsumerInformation/default.htm
- Genetic and Rare Diseases (GARD) Information Center
PO Box 8126
Gaithersburg MD 20898-8126
Phone #: 301-251-4925
800 #: 888-205-2311
e-mail: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx
Home page: http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD
- Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program
850 Marina Bay Parkway
Room E361
Richmond CA 94804
Phone #: 510-231-7600
800 #: N/A
e-mail: ibtpp@infantbotulism.org
Home page: http://www.infantbotulism.org
- NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
6610 Rockledge Drive
MSC 6612
Bethesda MD 20892-6612
Phone #: 301-496-5717
800 #: --
e-mail: N/A
Home page: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
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