Incidence Of Clostridium Botulinum Research Articles

Fate of Clostridium botulinum and incidence of pathogenic clostridia in biogas processes.

This study aimed to assess the sanitary situation in agricultural biogas plants (BP) regarding pathogenic Clostridium spp. The incidence of Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium novyi, Clostridium haemolyticum, Clostridium septicum and Clostridium chauvoei was investigated in 154 plant and animal substrates, digester sludges and digestates from full-scale BP using a method combining microbial enrichment with Real-Time PCR. The investigated clostridia were absent in the samples, except for Cl. novyi that was barely present (3·9%) and Cl. difficile that was more frequently detected (44·8%). Clostridium botulinum exposed to lab-scale digesters in sentinel chambers was reduced with D-values of 34·6 ± 11·2 days at 38°C and 1·0 ± 0·2 days at 55°C. These findings indicate minor relevance of clostridial pathogens in BP and an improved sanitary quality of the digestion product compared to untreated substrates concerning Cl. botulinum. However, the frequent detection of Cl. difficile opens questions on the durability of this organism in manure digestion lines. This is the first study providing data on the reduction of Cl. botulinum during biogas processes that scientifically invalidate contrary claims by some media in the public. Furthermore, the results improve the fragmentary knowledge on the prevalence of several clostridial pathogens in agricultural biogas production.

Incidence of Clostridium botulinum in Vegetables Packaged under Vacuum or Modified Atmosphere

Because modified atmosphere-packaged (MAP) vegetables may provide an anaerobic environment conducive to Clostridium botulinum growth and toxin production, the incidence of C. botulinum spores in commercially available, precut MAP vegetables was determined. One-pound (454-g) packages of MAP vegetables were aseptically opened, added to freshly steamed and cooled sterile trypticase-peptone-glucose-yeast extract broth and incubated at 35°C for 7 days. Positive and negative controls were included with each sampling. After incubation the broth cultures were tested for toxicity by the standard mouse bioassay. Of the 1,118 MAP vegetable packages examined, one package each of shredded cabbage, chopped green pepper, and Italian salad mix contained C. botulinum type A spores. One additional salad mix (main ingredient, escarole) contained both C. botulinum type A and type B spores. Results indicated a low overall incidence rate (0.36%) of C. botulinum spores in commercially available precut MAP vegetables.

Incidence of Clostridium botulinum in Commercial Bacon

Of 416 75-g samples of commercial bacon cultured with or without prior heating. only one gave rise to formation of botulinal toxin. The most probable number of Clostridium botulinum was estimated at 0.064 per kg, with a 99% confidence limit of 0.0004 to 0.478 per kg.

The incidence of Clostridium botulinum in farmed trout raised in Great Britain.

The incidence of Clostridium botulinum in farmed trout has been studied. Seventeen farms were visited; 5 in Scotland, 2 in Wales and 10 in England. Fourteen hundred trout were examined and the incidence of Cl. botulinum in whole fish and viscera was 9·4 and 11·0%, respectively. The organism was demonstrated in 13 of the 17 farms examined ranging from 2·9 to 100%. Four visits to one farm showed only a slight variation in the incidence of the organism.

Incidence of Clostridium botulinum in Crabmeat from the Blue Crab

The incidence of Clostridium botulinum in fresh crabmeat of blue crab was six out of 986 samples; in pasteurized crabmeat one sample out of 1,000 contained the organism.

Report on the incidence of Clostridium botulinum in dressed poultry.

Report on the incidence of Clostridium botulinum in dressed poultry.