Epidemiology and Infection

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Short Report

Two simultaneous botulism outbreaks in Barcelona: Clostridium baratii and Clostridium botulinum

S. LAFUENTEa1 c1, J. NOLLAa2, S. VALDEZATEa3, C. TORTAJADAa1, H. VARGAS-LEGUASa1, I. PARRONa4, J. A. SÁEZ-NIETOa3, S. PORTAÑAa1, G. CARRASCOa3, E. MOGUELa3, S. SABATEa1, R. ARGELICHa5 and J. A. CAYLÀa1

a1 Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain

a2 Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

a3 Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

a4 Departament de Salut. Catalunya, Spain

a5 Centro Médico Teknon, Barcelona, Spain

SUMMARY

Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic disorder that can be potentially life-threatening. In Barcelona, Spain, no outbreaks had been reported in the past 25 years. However, in September 2011, two outbreaks occurred involving two different families. A rare case of Clostridium baratii which produced a neurotoxin F outbreak was detected in five family members who had shared lunch, and several days before that another family was affected by C. botulinum toxin A which was probably present in homemade pâté.

(Received June 21 2012)

(Revised October 18 2012)

(Accepted October 24 2012)

Key words

  • Botulism neurotoxin;
  • Clostridium baratii ;
  • Clostridium botulinum ;
  • foodborne outbreak

Correspondence:

c1 Author for correspondence: S. Lafuente van der Sluis, Agencia de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain. (Email: sarahlafuente@hotmail.com)

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