Characterization of a neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum strain isolated from the food implicated in an outbreak of food-borne type E botulism

Abstract

Neurotoxigenic Clostridium butyricum was isolated from the food implicated in an outbreak of clinically diagnosed type E botulism in China. PCR assay showed that the isolate (LCL 155) contained the type E botulinum toxin gene. This appears to be the first report of neurotoxigenic C. butyricum causing food-borne botulism.