Familial microepidemic of food-borne botulism in the Region of Madrid

• Published in: Revista de neurologiá Vol. 63; no. 1; pp. 28 - 32
• Main Authors: Jalda, D, Junco, A, Alvarez-Moreno, M, Rodero, I, Carneado-Ruiz, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Spain 01.07.2016
• Subjects: Biological Assay; Botulinum Toxins - analysis; Botulism - diagnosis; Clostridium botulinum; Food Contamination; Humans; Length of Stay; Spain
• ISSN: 1576-6578
• DOI: 10.33588/rn.6301.2016081

Botulism is a syndrome caused by the toxin of the bacillus Clostridium botulinum. The toxin acts by blocking the presynaptic cholinergic endings of the neuromuscular junction and of the parasympathetic nervous system, and gives rise to a flaccid paralysis and parasympathetic failure. The most common way to catch the disease is by ingestion of the preformed toxin present in badly sterilised home-made preserves, although other mechanisms are also possible. Its incidence in Spain today is very low. We report the case of three members of a family living together who presented a clinical picture of food-borne botulism. The initial clinical symptoms showed a predilection for ocular paresis and for dysautonomic symptoms of little specificity, and the familial aggregation was the fundamental evidence that suggested the diagnosis. Later, the patients' state got worse and two of them presented involvement of the respiratory function and required a lengthy stay in the intensive care unit. After a period of convalescence the three patients recovered without any sequelae. Botulinum toxin was detected by bioassay in some food samples, which allowed the diagnosis to be categorised as confirmed. The familial microepidemic reported here is a case of predominantly ocular and dysautonomic involvement. Likewise, it illustrates several aspects that are typical of the disease: the suspected diagnosis in cohabiting patients who visit at the same time for a similar clinical picture, the characteristic complications of the process and its treatment, the laboratory diagnosis and its natural history towards resolution.