Wound botulism in the UK and Ireland

Brett, M M; Hallas, Gill; Mpamugo, O

doi:10.1099/jmm.0.05379-0

Cited by 69 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Some reports suggest a link to sudden infant death syndrome (Arnon 2004;Fox et al 2005). Wound botulism is an infection in which growth and neurotoxin formation occur in a wound in the body (Werner et al 2000;Brett et al 2004). Until recently, this disease was very rare; however, a significant number of cases have now been reported in many countries, primarily associated with intravenous drug abuse.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome sequence of a proteolytic (Group I) Clostridium botulinum strain Hall A and comparative analysis of the clostridial genomes

Sebaihia¹,

Peck²,

Minton³

et al. 2007

Genome Res.

235

215

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Clostridium botulinum is a heterogeneous Gram-positive species that comprises four genetically and physiologically distinct groups of bacteria that share the ability to produce botulinum neurotoxin, the most poisonous toxin known to man, and the causative agent of botulism, a severe disease of humans and animals. We report here the complete genome sequence of a representative of Group I (proteolytic) C. botulinum (strain Hall A, ATCC 3502). The genome consists of a chromosome (3,886,916 bp) and a plasmid (16,344 bp), which carry 3650 and 19 predicted genes, respectively. Consistent with the proteolytic phenotype of this strain, the genome harbors a large number of genes encoding secreted proteases and enzymes involved in uptake and metabolism of amino acids. The genome also reveals a hitherto unknown ability of C. botulinum to degrade chitin. There is a significant lack of recently acquired DNA, indicating a stable genomic content, in strong contrast to the fluid genome of Clostridium difficile, which can form longer-term relationships with its host. Overall, the genome indicates that C. botulinum is adapted to a saprophytic lifestyle both in soil and aquatic environments. This pathogen relies on its toxin to rapidly kill a wide range of prey species, and to gain access to nutrient sources, it releases a large number of extracellular enzymes to soften and destroy rotting or decayed tissues.

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genome sequence of a proteolytic (Group I) Clostridium botulinum strain Hall A and comparative analysis of the clostridial genomes

Sebaihia¹,

Peck²,

Minton³

et al. 2007

Genome Res.

235

215

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“…This is known to be an important factor, because the toxin cannot be detected in serum once it permanently becomes bound to its cell receptors [13]. Furthermore, toxin type A is more aggressive than toxin type B [14].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Outbreak of wound botulism in injecting drug users

Schroeter¹,

Alpers

Treeck³

et al. 2009

Epidemiol. Infect.

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SUMMARYBetween October and December 2005, 16 cases of wound botulism were notified to the health authorities of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. All patients were injecting drug users (IDU) and the epidemiological investigations suggested contaminated injection drugs as the most probable source of infection. Clostridium botulinum was cultivated from clinical samples of six patients and molecular typing revealed that the different isolates were clonally identical. Two samples of heroin, one of them provided by a patient, were examined but C. botulinum could not be isolated. This outbreak demonstrates that IDU are at risk for acquiring wound botulism by injecting contaminated drugs. A greater awareness of this disease is needed by physicians and a close cooperation between public health authorities, street workers, operators of sheltered injecting facilities, and medical centres focusing on IDU is essential to prevent and manage outbreaks in IDU in a timely manner.

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“…5,7 Cases outside the United States have been reported most frequently from the United Kingdom and occasionally elsewhere in Europe and in Australia. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17]25 And what of the less-developed world? Given the wide distribution of spores of C. botulinum in soil and marine environments, the frequency of traumatic injury in impoverished areas, and the presumed occurrence of injection drug use as well, cases of wound botulism would be expected to occur globally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8,9 Case reports of drug-associated wound botulism from Europe followed. [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Despite the worldwide distribution of C. botulinum spores in soil and the practice of drug injection in other regions of the world, reports of wound botulism from outside of North America, Europe, and Australia are exceedingly rare. We report two cases of trauma-associated wound botulism that occurred within 10 months in the Ecuadorian jungle.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%