Detecting Clostridium botulinum.To the Editor: In the October 2005 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Song et al. described a fiber-optic, microsphere-based, high-density array composed of 18 species-specific probe microsensors, used to identify biological warfare biological warfare n. agents, including Clostridium botulinum bot·u·li·nus (-n The use of disease-producing microorganisms, toxic biological products, or organic biocides to cause death or injury to humans, animals, or plants.  s)n. (1). Although the researchers used multiple probes for C. botulinum, we doubt that this approach is suitable for this organism. An anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium (Clostridium botulinum) that secretes botulin and inhabits soils. C. botulinum comprises a heterogenous het·er·og·e·nous (h  t -r j group of subspecies that produce botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT); identification and characterization usually rely on animal testing that focuses on antigenetically distinct toxins (2). Although strains of C. botulinum that do not produce toxins are sometimes isolated from wound infections not related to botulism infant botulism that affecting infants, thought to result from toxin produced in the gut by ingested organisms, rather than from preformed toxins. wound botulism a form resulting from infection of a wound with Clostridium botulinum. , some strains of C. butyricum and C. baratii are also able to produce BoNTs. The mouse bioassay 1. Determination of the strength or biological activity of a substance, such as a drug or hormone, by comparing its effects with those of a standard preparation on a test organism. 2. A test used to determine such strength or activity. v. is currently the accepted method for detecting BoNT. In this assay, mice that receive an intraperitoneal injection containing a sample with more than a minimum lethal dose show symptoms of botulinum intoxication and die. ELISAs, which recognize protein antigenic antigenic /an·ti·gen·ic/ (an-ti-jen´ik) having the properties of an antigen. sites, are still less sensitive than the mouse bioassay (3). To cause to undergo a bioassay. Also called biologic assay. Because the mouse bioassay requires euthanizing many animals, and results are not available for several hours, new diagnostic methods are needed. For C. botulinum, an organism widely dispersed in the environment, DNA-based methods may not provide the ultimate solution. Rapid methods to detect and differentiate active BoNTs, such as the rapid, mass spectrometry-based, functional method, are promising candidates to substitute for animal testing in the near future (4). References (1.) Song L, Ahn S, Walt DR. Detecting biological warfare agents. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:1629-32. (2.) Grif K, Dierich MP, Much P, Hofer E, Allerberger F. Identifying and subtyping species of dangerous pathogens by automated ribotyping. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2003;47:313-20. (3.) Ferreira JL, Eliasberg SJ, Edmonds P, Harrison MA. Comparison of the mouse bioassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent immunosorbent /im·mu·no·sor·bent/ (-sor´bent) an insoluble support for antigen or antibody used to absorb homologous antibodies or antigens, respectively, from a mixture; the antibodies or antigens so removed may then be eluted in pure form. im·mu·no·sor·bent assay procedures for the detection of type A botulinal botulinal /bot·u·li·nal/ (boch?u-li´n'l) 1. pertaining to Clostridium botulinum. 2. pertaining to botulinum toxin. toxin in food. J Food Prot. 2004;67:203-6. (4.) BaIT JR, Moura H, Boyer AE, Woolfitt AR, Kalb SR, Pavlopoulos A, et al. Botulinum neurotoxin detection and differentiation by mass spectrometry. Emerg Infect Dis. 2005;11:1578-83. Address for correspondence: Franz Allerberger, Medical University Innsbruck Innsbruck (ĭns`br  k), city (1991 pop. 118,112), capital of Tyrol prov., SW Austria, on the Inn River. A famous summer and winter tourist center, it is also an industrial, commercial, and transport center., Department of Hygiene, Fritz Pregl Str 3, Innsbruck Austria 6020; email: Franz. Allerberger@i-med.ac.at Josef Karner * and Franz Allerberger * * Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria |
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