What disease is caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum?

Clostridium botulinum causes botulism by producing botulinum neurotoxin.

C. botulinum is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium. Its spores are widespread in soil and can survive harsh conditions. In oxygen-free environments, such as improperly preserved food, the bacterium may grow and produce toxin. People can then develop foodborne botulism by ingesting toxin that was already formed in food.

The toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine at nerve endings, preventing muscles from receiving normal signals. This produces a characteristic flaccid paralysis, often beginning with blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and weakness. Severe cases can paralyze the breathing muscles. Infant botulism occurs when spores grow in an infant’s intestine, while wound botulism follows bacterial growth in a contaminated wound.

The bacterium’s name has a culinary origin: botulus is Latin for sausage. In 1895, Belgian bacteriologist Émile van Ermengem isolated the organism from ham linked to a botulism outbreak. Botulinum toxin is dangerous in tiny amounts, yet carefully purified forms are also used medically and cosmetically to relax overactive muscles.