Most Wanted: Clostridium Botulinum
By: Brandon Brown
Description of Pathogenic Organism
Name: Clostridium Botulinum
Shape: Rod-Shaped
Gram Stain: Positive
Disease that Organism causes: Flaccid Paralysis
Organisms (MO)
How does the virus spread in "Clostridium Botulinum"?: Clostridium botulinum bacterium forms spores, which are small, usually single-celled reproductive bodies that are highly resistant to drought and heat and capable of growing into new organisms.
Symptoms of the Disease
Symptoms/How it makes you feel:
- double vision
- blurred vision
- drooping eyelids
- slurred speech
- difficulty swallowing
- dry mouth
- muscle weakness
- flaccid, symmetric, descending paralysis
Where is Clostridium Botulinum Found?
Clostridium botulinum is found in soil and untreated water throughout the world. It produces spores that survive in improperly preserved or canned food, where they produce a toxin. When eaten, even tiny amounts of this toxin can lead to severe poisoning.
Who is Most Likely to be attacked?
Anyone who gets in contact w/ the bacteria.
Most effective medicine?
If found early, botulism can be treated with an antitoxin that blocks circulation of the toxin in the bloodstream. This prevents the patient’s case from worsening, but recovery still takes several weeks.