What is the infectious process in botulism?
Botulinum toxin is an exotoxin of C. botulinum.
The presence of common bacteria inhibits the growth of C. botulinum, but infection occurs when the victim ingests improperly prepared canned or bottled foods in which the common bacteria are killed, but the more resistant Clostridium spores are spared. In infants, the intestinal bacterial flora may not effectively inhibit the growth of C. botulinum .
Human botulism is usually caused by exotoxin produced by types A, B, and E, which interfere with ACh release.
