CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM &DIFFICILE

Clostridium botulinum

Scientific classsification. Domain : bacteria

Division : firmicutes

Class : clostridia

Order : clostridiales

Family : clostridiaceae

Genus : clostridium

Species : botulinum

Introduction & morphology.

it was first isolated by emile van ermengem.

It was a gram positive,rod shaped.

It is an obligate anerobe,however tolerates traces of oxygen due to the presence of an enzyme called super oxide dismutase (SOD),which is an anti-oxidant.

Cont……….

It is a spore former producing oval,sub-terminal bulging endospores.

It is motile by peritrichate flagella.

It is non capsulated.

It is about 5 x 1 micro meters in size.

Habitat it is a saprophyte growing in

soil,vegetables,animal manure and sea mud.

Cultural characterstics

Optimum temperature is 35 deg celcius.

Growth occurs on ordinary media.

Colonies are--- large irregular semi-transparent with fimbriate border.

Spores are produced consistantly when grown on alkaline glucose gelatin media.

Classification eight types have been

identified(A,B,C1,C2,D,E,F,G)

Classified based on the immunological differences in the toxins produced by them.

all types produce neuro toxins except C2 which produce enterotoxin.

Toxin

It produces an exotoxin.

It is initially a non toxic pro-toxin which becomes active by action of trypsin.

MW is 70000.

Lethal dose for humans is 1-2 mic gm.

It is a neurotoxin.

It leads to dysphagia,diplopia,disarthria.

Death is caused by respiratory paralysis.

Pathogenicity It causes botulism a paralytic disease

Food borne:- source is usually preserved foods.

Symptoms include vomiting,thirst, constipation,dysphagia.

Death is due to respiratory failure &occurs 1-7 days after onset.

Wound botulism:- Mainly due to wound infection with

cl.botulinum.

Symptoms are Similar to food borne except for GIT components which are absent.

Infant botulism It occurs in infants below six months.

Manifestations are constipation, poor feeding,Lethargy,weakness,altered cry,loss of head control.

patients excreate toxin&spores in faeces.

It produces SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME(SIDS).

Lab diagnosis Demonstration of bacillus in food or faeces.

Typing is done by passive protection with type specific anti toxin.

Occasionally can be demonstrable in patients blood,or in liver in postmortem.

Control Proper canning and preservation.

Prophylactic dose of antitoxin during out breaks.

Active immunisation in lab workers is effective.

Clostridium difficile

It was first isolated from faeces of newborn infants.

Morphology

It is long, slender, gram positive bacillus.

It is non hemolytic,saccharolytic,&weakly proteolytic.

Pathogenesis

Antibiotic colitis is due to active multiplication of cl difficile and its production of entero toxin &cytotoxin.

Lab diagnosis

Demonstration of the toxin in feces of the patients by its characterstic HEP-2 and human diploid cell cultures or by ELISA.

The toxin is neutralised by CL SORDELLI anti toxin.

Treatment Metronidazole is the drug of choice Vancomycin and bacitracin are also

useful

Thank you