Genomic Characterization of Newly Completed Genomes of Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Species from Argentina, Australia, and Africa.

Botulinum neurotoxin-producing clostridia are diverse in the types of toxins they produce as well as in their overall genomic composition. They are globally distributed, with prevalent species and toxin types found within distinct geographic regions, but related strains containing the same toxin types may also be located on distinct continents. The mechanisms behind the spread of these bacteria and the independent movements of their bont genes may be understood through examination of their genetic backgrounds. The generation of 15 complete genomic sequences from bacteria isolated in Argentina, Australia, and Africa allows for a thorough examination of genome features, including overall relationships, bont gene cluster locations and arrangements, and plasmid comparisons, in bacteria isolated from various areas in the southern hemisphere. Insights gained from these examinations provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind the independent movements of these elements among distinct species.

First report of an infant botulism case due to Clostridium botulinum type Af.

Most infant botulism cases worldwide are due to botulinum toxin types A and B. Rarely, Clostridium botulinum strains that produce two serotypes (Ab, Ba, and Bf) have also been isolated from infant botulism cases. This is the first reported case of infant botulism due to C. botulinum type Af worldwide.

Analysis of a unique Clostridium botulinum strain from the Southern hemisphere producing a novel type E botulinum neurotoxin subtype.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium botulinum strains that produce botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) are most commonly isolated from botulism cases, marine environments, and animals in regions of high latitude in the Northern hemisphere. A strain of C. botulinum type E (CDC66177) was isolated from soil in Chubut, Argentina. Previous studies showed that the amino acid sequences of BoNT/E produced by various strains differ by < 6% and that the type E neurotoxin gene cluster inserts into the rarA operon. RESULTS: Genetic and mass spectral analysis demonstrated that the BoNT/E produced by CDC66177 is a novel toxin subtype (E9). Toxin gene sequencing indicated that BoNT/E9 differed by nearly 11% at the amino acid level compared to BoNT/E1. Mass spectrometric analysis of BoNT/E9 revealed that its endopeptidase substrate cleavage site was identical to other BoNT/E subtypes. Further analysis of this strain demonstrated that its 16S rRNA sequence clustered with other Group II C. botulinum (producing BoNT types B, E, and F) strains. Genomic DNA isolated from strain CDC66177 hybridized with fewer probes using a Group II C. botulinum subtyping microarray compared to other type E strains examined. Whole genome shotgun sequencing of strain CDC66177 revealed that while the toxin gene cluster inserted into the rarA operon similar to other type E strains, its overall genome content shared greater similarity with a Group II C. botulinum type B strain (17B). CONCLUSIONS: These results expand our understanding of the global distribution of C. botulinum type E strains and suggest that the type E toxin gene cluster may be able to insert into C. botulinum strains with a more diverse genetic background than previously recognized.

Equine botulinum antitoxin for the treatment of infant botulism.

Infant botulism is the most common form of human botulism in Argentina and the United States. BabyBIG (botulism immune globulin intravenous [human]) is the antitoxin of choice for specific treatment of infant botulism in the United States. However, its high cost limits its use in many countries. We report here the effectiveness and safety of equine botulinum antitoxin (EqBA) as an alternative treatment. We conducted an analytical, observational, retrospective, and longitudinal study on cases of infant botulism registered in Mendoza, Argentina, from 1993 to 2007. We analyzed 92 medical records of laboratory-confirmed cases and evaluated the safety and efficacy of treatment with EqBA. Forty-nine laboratory-confirmed cases of infant botulism demanding admission in intensive care units and mechanical ventilation included 31 treated with EqBA within the 5 days after the onset of signs and 18 untreated with EqBA. EqBA-treated patients had a reduction in the mean length of hospital stay of 23.9 days (P = 0.0007). For infants treated with EqBA, the intensive care unit stay was shortened by 11.2 days (P = 0.0036), mechanical ventilation was reduced by 11.1 days (P = 0.0155), and tube feeding was reduced by 24.4 days (P = 0.0001). The incidence of sepsis in EqBA-treated patients was 47.3% lower (P = 0.0017) than in the untreated ones. Neither sequelae nor adverse effects attributable to EqBA were noticed, except for one infant who developed a transient erythematous rash. These results suggest that prompt treatment of infant botulism with EqBA is safe and effective and that EqBA could be considered an alternative specific treatment for infant botulism when BabyBIG is not available.

Presence of Clostridium botulinum spores in Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) and its relationship with infant botulism.

Nowadays, infant botulism is the most important form of human botulism in some countries. This illness affects infants younger than 52 weeks of age. The infection occurs in the intestinal tract; therefore, ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores with food is proposed. In some countries, people use chamomile tea as a household remedy for intestinal colics and given this tea to infants. Chamomile can be contaminated with C. botulinum and could be a vehicle of its spores. Our aim was to study the prevalence and spore-load of C. botulinum in chamomile. We analysed 200 samples; the 7.5% of them were contaminated with botulinum spores. However, prevalence of these spores was significantly higher in chamomile sold by weight in herbal stores (unwrapped chamomile) than prevalence in chamomile sold in tea bags (p=0.0055). The spore-load detected in all positive samples was 0.3-0.4 spores per gram of chamomile. We identified C. botulinum types A, B, and F in the 53.3%, 6.7%, and 13.3%, respectively. Chamomile (principally, unwrapped chamomile) is a potencial vehicle of C. botulinum spores, and ingestion of chamomile tea could represent a risk for infant botulism.

Distribution of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia in soils of Argentina.

We studied the presence of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia in 2,009 soil samples from five geographical regions of Argentina. The prevalence was 23.5%, and the distribution was not homogeneous among the regions. We observed a great multiplicity of serological types and a higher prevalence in nonvirgin soils than in virgin soils.

Botulismo del lactante / Infant botulism

En el presente trabajo se expone la experiencia clínica, terapéutica y evolutiva de 6 casos de botulismo del lactante acaecidos desde marzo de 1982 hasta enero de 1986 en la ciudad de Mendonza, Argentina. La edad fluctuó entre 2 y 4 meses. Se identificó toxina botulínica tipo A en sangre de 4 niños y en las heces de 5. En los 6 casos se aisló Clostridium botulinum tipo A de las heces. El cuadro clínico que nos permite sospechar el diagnóstico tempranamente se manifiesta con una tríada: hipotonía, constipación y reflejo fotomotor disminuido o ausente. La alta contaminación de nuestros suelos y la atención creciente que se presta a esta patología incidirán seguramente incrementando su diagnóstico

Botulismo del lactante: presentación en un niño de 40 días / Infant botulism: report of a child aged 40 days

Se describemn los signos clínicos, evolución y tratamiento de un niño de 40 días con butolismo. Es el octavo diagnosticado en Mendoza, el de menor edad de esta casuística y el tercero que sobrevive. Se señalan los métodos de diagnóstico y l seguimiento de laboratorio. También se refiere la búsqueda de Clostridium botulinum en el medio ecológico del niño. Se considera la posibilidad de que la lactancia materna brinde una protección relativa

Botulismo del lactante / Infant botulism

En el presente trabajo se expone la experiencia clínica, terapéutica y evolutiva de 6 casos de botulismo del lactante acaecidos desde marzo de 1982 hasta enero de 1986 en la ciudad de Mendonza, Argentina. La edad fluctuó entre 2 y 4 meses. Se identificó toxina botulínica tipo A en sangre de 4 niños y en las heces de 5. En los 6 casos se aisló Clostridium botulinum tipo A de las heces. El cuadro clínico que nos permite sospechar el diagnóstico tempranamente se manifiesta con una tríada: hipotonía, constipación y reflejo fotomotor disminuido o ausente. La alta contaminación de nuestros suelos y la atención creciente que se presta a esta patología incidirán seguramente incrementando su diagnóstico (AU)

Botulismo del lactante: presentación en un niño de 40 días / Infant botulism: report of a child aged 40 days

Se describemn los signos clínicos, evolución y tratamiento de un niño de 40 días con butolismo. Es el octavo diagnosticado en Mendoza, el de menor edad de esta casuística y el tercero que sobrevive. Se señalan los métodos de diagnóstico y l seguimiento de laboratorio. También se refiere la búsqueda de Clostridium botulinum en el medio ecológico del niño. Se considera la posibilidad de que la lactancia materna brinde una protección relativa (AU)