Overview and history
Clostridium Botulinum is the biological agent that causes Botulism. A harmful bio agent is used by militants in bio-terror attacks. The US center for disease control and prevention has classified as a destructive biological terror agent. It was first recorded in Germany where is was seen to be correlated with the German Sausage – a food-borne disease which was observed to be a food poisoning after eating sausage. This was well clarified when the neurotoxins of this disease was isolated in 1944. These toxins were shown to block neuromuscular transmissions by obstructing the release of acetylcholine from the motor nerve endings (Medicinenet, 2017).
In 1989 the Clostridium Botulinum agent was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of Strabismus, Blepharospasms and hemifacial spasms. It is also used in cosmetic improvements and curbing of underarm sweating and muscle pain disorders. The Botulinum toxin has been established to be important in treatment of ophthalmological disorders like concomitant misalignment, exotropia and the Duane’s syndrome. Other health complications treated using this toxin include Multiple scheloris, stroke, cerebral palsy and spinal injury.
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In 2017 the bio-agent was reported to result in hospitalization of 10 patients in Sacramento, calif. This occurred after they were reported to eat Nacho cheese sauce at a gas station. Most of these patients were taken to intensive care unit and some took over a month in hospital (Munchau& Bhatia, 2000)
Properties of the agent
Clostridium botulism is a bacterium containing neurotoxins that causes Botulism. This disease makes the patient have flaccid paralysis of muscles. This bio agent has been used in bio-terror attacks because it has seven neurotoxins that it produces. The neurotoxins types A, B and E are known to be the causative agents of flaccid paralysis in humans. Other toxins present in the agent are known to cause fatal diseases in birds and animals. This agent is not transmitted from person to person but develops when an individual ingests. It may also be passed after developing in the intestines or wounds and its associated toxins are releases.
Harmful impact of the agent
The toxin is mostly associated with food poisoning mostly because this bacterium thrives in anaerobic, low salt, and low acid conditions. This toxin can be inhibited by refrigeration of 4 degrees Celsius. When these toxins are not curbed it is seen to cause food borne botulism which is known to cause physical limitation in future. Patients also display symptoms of persistent psychological dysfunction. Some long-term health limitations may occur as difficulty lifting things, dry mouth and weakness (Marler, 2017)
Protective equipment for responder and detection devices
Botulism that is caused by the Botulinum agent is hard to differentiate form other diseases, it requires the presences of other patients to prove its occurrence. The most common detection method this this toxin involve the use of mouse neutralization test. Here serum is injected into the mice and then the signs of botulism are checked on it. A new method of detecting this bio agent has been developed by scientists and it involves detecting non-proteolytic C botulinum to show incidences of spores in food. This method can handle large samples and uses structured control samples (Science Daily, 2010). Health practitioners should wear protective gear when attending to the patients who might have come into contact with the toxin. It can also be avoiding eating or tasting foods that are in containers that are bulging or swollen, cracked or damaged.
Treaties and policy prohibiting or controlling use or availability of the agent or
The botulinum toxin have been approved by the US Food And Drug Administration (US FDA) for use in treating muscle pain and is also a legal component in cosmetic surgery and related treatment. However WHO prohibits use of this toxin as it is a biological weapon (Munchau& Bhatia, 2000).
References
Marler B., (2017). What To Know About Botulism. Food Poison Journal
ScienceDaily.com. (2010)New Method Of Detecting Clostridium Botulin Spores. Science Daily
Munchau A. & Bhatia K P., (2000). Uses OfBotulinum Toxin In Medicine Today. NCBI
Medicinenet, (2017).Botulism. Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/botulism/article.htm
