Collaborative wildlife disease outbreak investigation and response at Bells Swamp Victoria, February 2023.

In February 2023, a report of morbidity and mortality in waterbirds triggered a collaborative regional wildlife disease outbreak investigation and response, led by Parks Victoria. Triage, rehabilitation and diagnosis of sick and dead birds were undertaken by Zoos Victoria (ZV), Agriculture Victoria, Vets for Compassion, Wildlife Victoria and Melbourne Veterinary School (MVS). The field response focused on collection of sick and dead birds for wildlife welfare, for diagnosis, and to reduce environmental contamination.

An outbreak of botulism on a pig farm due to the newly described Clostridium botulinum type C.

This study reports a botulism outbreak on a pig farm. Clostridium botulinum type C was detected using PCR. The gene encoding the toxin corresponds to a novel type C neurotoxin recently described in a human botulism outbreak, raising the question of its prevalence in pigs and the related risks to humans.

Selection of Candidate Monoclonal Antibodies for Therapy of Botulinum Toxin Type A Intoxications.

Botulism is one of the most serious food intoxications, manifesting as prolonged paralytic conditions. This disease is usually the result of the consumption of poor quality canned or smoked foods, so the inhabitants of many countries of the world are exposed to the risk of this kind of poisoning every year. In view of the severity of poisonings caused by botulinum neurotoxins, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) show great promise because of their targeting action, lack of allergic reactions and serum sickness.

Foodborne Botulism Type F: A Rare Presentation of Neurologic Manifestation and Successful Management.

Botulism is a neuroparalytic syndrome resulting from the systemic effects of an exoneurotoxin produced by gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic bacterium . Here, we present the case of a 40-year-old male, presenting with a sudden onset of abdominal pain associated with vomiting. He was admitted for conservative management once the CT of the abdomen and pelvis revealed partial small bowel obstruction with no signs of bowel perforation or ischemia.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Severe Infant Botulism, China.

Infant botulism in a 4-month-old boy in China who continued to excrete toxins for over a month despite antitoxin therapy was further treated with fecal microbiota transplantation. After treatment, we noted increased gut microbial diversity and altered fecal metabolites, which may help reduce intestinal pH and enhance anti-inflammatory capabilities.

Overview of anaerobic infections in children and their treatment.

Anaerobic bacteria can cause many infections in children. Because they predominant in the normal human skin and mucous membranes bacterial flora, they are often associated with bacterial infections that originate from these sites. They are difficult to isolate from infectious sites, and are frequently missed.

The Degradation of Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chains Using PROTACs.

Botulinum neurotoxins are some of the most potent natural toxins known; they cause flaccid paralysis by inhibiting synaptic vesicle release. Some serotypes, notably serotype A and B, can cause persistent paralysis lasting for several months. Because of their potency and persistence, botulinum neurotoxins are now used to manage several clinical conditions, and there is interest in expanding their clinical applications using engineered toxins with novel substrate specificities.

Would you bet on the vet? Influences on dairy farmers' vaccination choices, with a spotlight on the Veterinarian impact.

Ensuring effective vaccination is crucial for epidemic control, particularly in voluntary vaccination scenarios. Though highly important for planning voluntary vaccination programs, we lack insights into the effectiveness of veterinarian communication and the impact of disease-specific traits on farmer vaccination intentions. To fill this void, our study compared five diseases affecting Israeli dairy cattle (Botulism, Bovine Ephemeral Fever (BEF), Brucellosis, Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), and Rabies).

A severe case of iatrogenic botulism associated with COVID-19 infection.

Background: The botulinum toxin is an extremely potent substance that impacts the nervous system. There has been a rise in cases of medical poisoning associated with it, particularly in the field of plastic and aesthetic procedures, in recent years.

Case Description: A 51-year-old woman underwent a facial wrinkle reduction procedure with an unauthorized injection of 100 U of botulinum toxin at an unlicensed medical facility six days prior to hospitalization.

Rare and novel complications of botulinum neurotoxin type A and dermal filler injections.

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNTA) and filler injection procedures usually provide predicted outcomes with a low incidence of complications. Most of the complications after these procedures have been extensively discussed. In this study, we report on these injectables' less well-known, recently reported, and novel complications and attempt to clarify the underlying mechanisms.

Dissecting and tracing the gut microbiota of infants with botulism: a cross sectional and longitudinal study.

Background: Infant botulism is caused by botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT), which is mainly produced by . However, there is a lack of longitudinal cohort studies on infant botulism. Herein, we have constructed a cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort of infants infected with .

Botulinum Toxin Accessory Proteins: Are They Just an Accessory?

Background: Botulinum neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum consist of a complex of a core neurotoxin protein and one or more nontoxin accessory proteins. The accessory proteins are generally thought to protect the neurotoxin from the gastric environment in botulism poisoning, dissociating away upon absorption. Other than their questionable immunogenicity, they are rarely mentioned in botulinum toxin therapy.

Design and evaluation of mRNA encoding recombinant neutralizing antibodies for botulinum neurotoxin type B intoxication prophylaxis.

Among all natural and synthetic toxins, botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), produced by in an anaerobic environment, are the most toxic polymer proteins. Currently, the most effective modalities for botulism prevention and treatment are vaccination and antitoxin use, respectively. However, these modalities are associated with long response time for active immunization, side effects, and donor limitations.

The First Reported Foodborne Botulism Outbreak in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Lessons Learned.

Background: Botulism has not been previously reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This rare and sometimes fatal foodborne illness is caused by neurotoxins and primarily results from consuming home-canned fruits, vegetables, dairy, and seafood products & it can lead to paralysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical features of patients who developed botulism in Riyadh in 2024 after consuming mayonnaise from a well-known local chain of restaurants in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Foodborne botulism outbreak with potential new management options.

Objectives: To shed some light on a potential therapeutic modality that may facilitate resolution of botulism symptoms, namely 3,4-diaminopyridine (3,4-DAP).

Methods: In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, we recently encountered a foodborne botulism outbreak that, luckily, was discovered early. In Prince Sultan Military Medical city, we admitted, during a period of approximately 3 weeks, 15 probable cases, 2 of which were excluded due to more likely alternative diagnoses.

Botulism Cases in Romania-An Overview of 14-Year National Surveillance Data.

Botulism is a priority disease worldwide because it has a very severe course of evolution that can lead to death. This paper aims to describe the main epidemiological characteristics of botulism cases confirmed in Romania over 14 years (2007-2020). We performed a retrospective study using the publicly available national surveillance data and reported to the National Institute of Public Health.

Neurobiological mechanisms of botulinum neurotoxin-induced analgesia for neuropathic pain.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are a family of neurotoxins produced by Clostridia and other bacteria that induce botulism. BoNTs are internalized into nerve terminals at the site of injection and cleave soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins to inhibit the vesicular release of neurotransmitters. BoNTs have been approved for multiple therapeutic applications, including the treatment of migraines.

Underreporting or Failed Notification? Global Botulism Reporting, 2000-2022.

Botulism is a rare, potentially fatal illness caused by botulinum toxins produced by bacteria. There are no coordinated worldwide reporting mechanisms for botulism cases and therefore few reliable case frequency estimates. This study aimed to establish an international benchmark for case frequency to determine estimated global rates of underreporting of botulism cases.

Electrophysiological abnormalities of the neuromuscular transmission in two patients with botulism-like syndrome following Botulinum-A muscle injections.

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype A (BoNT-A) has several therapeutic indications such as spasticity and dystonia. Although its use is generally considered safe, a systemic diffusion can lead to systemic complications, and a botulism-like syndrome can occur after intramuscular injections. Herein, two adult cases who developed general muscle weakness after a BoNT-A intramuscular injection are reported.