Botulinal Toxins

This page is a basic fact sheet about Botulinal Toxins.

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Characteristics		Basic characteristics: produced by Clostridium botulinum protein, molecular weight 900,000 daltons (Toxin A); toxins B, E, F and G also affect humans almost any food with a pH above 4.5 can, under suitable conditions, support growth of C. botulinum if released into the air, can be absorbed through lungs and skin inhibits release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junction, leading to paralysis

Toxicology		Properties include: lethal dosage: 0.02 milligrams per minute per cubic meter can cause poisoning following absorption through any mucous membrane, e.g., digestive tract or bronchial (lung) or conjunctival (eye) mucosa initial effects appear within 6-48 hrs; in general, the sooner they appear, the higher the death rate death after 3-8 days, depending on dose absorbed

Symptoms		Symptoms include: dizziness sore throat dry mouth progressive muscular weakness and paralysis (especially of musculature of eyes) death due to respiratory failure with associated cardiac arrest or complete vasomotor collapse

Cautions		Important precautions include: it is not spread by person to person contact; isolation of patients is not required in cold, stagnant water botulinal toxin A is stable for a week in food, botulinal toxin A may persist a long time under anaerobic conditions (out of contact with air) all food and water should be heat sterilized before consumption, i.e. boil water for 5-10 minutes protection required: gas mask and protective clothing if aerosol exposure is anticipated

First-aid and therapy		Therapeutic course: treatment with appropriate anti-toxin significantly improves chances of survival, must be administered within 48 hours trivalent anti-toxin against types A, B and E available from CDC Atlanta (Caution: anti-toxin is a horse serum product, watch for serum reaction) supportive treatment of symptoms should be administered as well, including oxygen to assist breathing toxoid immunoprophylaxis is feasible

Botulinal toxin A is destroyed by boiling for 5-10 minutes. In addition, it is detoxified by formaldehyde and precipitated by specific anti-toxin.