Question

Andrew V. Omit was admitted to the hospital after he was suffering from nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, speech difficulties, and general weakness. In the two days before he was admitted, he developed double vision and breathing difficulties. It was later found that he had consumed food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.

a)      What is he suffering from?

b)      What is the mechanism of action of this disease?

c)      Can this bacterium be used for cosmetic treatments? What are the risks associated with its medical use?

Answer 1

Ans a) Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxin and
causes botulism, a rare disease manifested as various
clinical syndromes ranging from food poisoning, wound
infection to infant botulism.

Answer b) Mechanism of Action of Botulinum Toxin (BT) : It produces flaccid paralysis

After entry (either ingested, inhaled, or produced in a wound), botulinum toxin is transported via blood to peripheral cholinergic nerve terminals.

• The most common nerve terminal sites are neuromuscular junctions, postganglionic parasympathetic nerve endings, and peripheral ganglia. It does not affect the CNS .

• BT binds to acetylcholine receptors on the nerve terminals at neuromuscular junction, which results in blockage of release of the acetylcholine, leading to flaccid paralysis.

Ans c)Yes botulinum can be used for cosmetic purposes like wrinking of faces as it help in those condition.Botulinum marketed under name Botox treatment .
Therapeutic uses: As BT produces flaccid paralysis, it can be used therapeutically for the treatment of spasmodic
conditions such as strabismus, blepharospasm and
myoclonus.

Risk associated with medical uses are

1)Bruise can occur along with pain and redness at the injection site.

2)Headache

3)Nausea
4)Temporary weakness of facial muscles or drooping can occur .

Sometimes the toxin can spread beyond the treatment area, causing botulism-like signs and symptoms such as Diplopia, dysphasia, dysarthria ,Descending symmetric flaccid paralysis of voluntary
muscles ,Deep tendon reflexes Constipation
Respiratory muscle paralysis, may lead to death.