Which organism is commonly associated with botulism toxins and is the etiologic agent for botulism?

Which organism is commonly associated with botulism toxins and is the etiologic agent for botulism?

• A. Salmonella enterica
• B. Clostridium botulinum
• C. Vibrio cholerae
• D. Staphylococcus aureus

Answer: (B)

Botulism toxins come from an anaerobic, spore-forming organism that is a Gram-positive rod. This organism, Clostridium botulinum, produces the botulinum neurotoxins that cause illness. The toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, leading to a characteristic flaccid paralysis. In foodborne botulism, people ingest preformed toxin found in improperly processed foods. The other organisms listed are involved in different diseases—Salmonella enterica causes gastroenteritis, Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, and Staphylococcus aureus causes rapid vomiting/diarrhea from enterotoxins or toxic shock syndrome—but none of them produce botulinum toxin.

Botulism toxins come from an anaerobic, spore-forming organism that is a Gram-positive rod. This organism, Clostridium botulinum, produces the botulinum neurotoxins that cause illness. The toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, leading to a characteristic flaccid paralysis. In foodborne botulism, people ingest preformed toxin found in improperly processed foods. The other organisms listed are involved in different diseases—Salmonella enterica causes gastroenteritis, Vibrio cholerae causes cholera, and Staphylococcus aureus causes rapid vomiting/diarrhea from enterotoxins or toxic shock syndrome—but none of them produce botulinum toxin.