From Garden to Paralysis: A One Health Educational Note on Foodborne Botulism with Insights from Animal and Environmental Links
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33687/ricosbiol.04.03.112Keywords:
Clostridium botulinum, botulism, foodborne botulism, flaccid paralysis, botulinum antitoxin, neurotoxin, One Health, animal botulism, zoonotic potential, food safety, home canning, public health surveillance, Guillain‑Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, descending paralysisAbstract
Educational Note Summary
Purpose: This educational note presents a hypothetical case of foodborne botulism to illustrate the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of this rare but life-threatening neuroparalytic illness. The case is expanded with a One Health perspective, exploring botulism in animals and the links between animal‑source foods and human disease. The goal is to provide a teaching tool for medical, veterinary, and public health trainees.
Key Learning Points:
- Recognize the classic triad of afebrile, descending flaccid paralysis with bulbar symptoms and a history of consuming home‑preserved or animal‑derived foods.
- Understand the pathophysiology of botulinum toxin at the neuromuscular junction.
- Apply timely diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, including antitoxin administration and respiratory support.
- Appreciate the One Health dimensions: botulism in livestock, wildlife, and the potential for transmission through animal‑source foods.
- Identify prevention strategies spanning safe home canning, animal feed management, slaughter inspection, and intersectoral surveillance.
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References
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Data Availability Statement
Disclaimer: This educational note presents a hypothetical composite case designed for teaching purposes. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental. All clinical details are representative of typical presentations described in the literature.
Data Availability Statement
No original datasets were generated for this review article. All cited data and findings are available within the original research publications referenced in the manuscript, accessible via the provided Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) or through respective journal platforms.
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