Outbreak of type A foodborne botulism at a boarding school, Uganda, 2008

SUMMARYBotulism has rarely been reported in Africa. In October 2008, botulism was reported in three Ugandan boarding-school students. All were hospitalized and one died. A cohort study was performed to assess food exposures among students, and clinical specimens and available food samples were tested for botulinum toxin. Three case-patients were identified; a homemade, oil-based condiment was eaten by all three. In the cohort study, no foods were significantly associated with illness. Botulinum toxin type A was confirmed in clinical samples. This is the first confirmed outbreak of foodborne botulism in Uganda. A homemade, oil-based condiment was the probable source. Consumption of homemade oil-based condiments is widespread in Ugandan schools, putting children at risk. Clinicians and public health authorities in Uganda should consider botulism when clusters of acute flaccid paralysis are seen. Additionally, schools should be warned of the hazard of homemade oil-based condiments, and take steps to prevent their use.

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Impact of integrated upper limb spasticity management including repeat botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections on patient-centred goal attainment in real-life practice: results from the prospective, observational Upper Limb International Spasticity cohort study (ULIS-III) in a Russian subpopulation

Zhurnal nevrologii i psikhiatrii im S S Korsakova ◽

10.17116/jnevro202112111139 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 121 (11) ◽

pp. 39

Author(s):

S.E. Khat’kova ◽

A. Baikova ◽

P. Maisonobe ◽

D.R. Khasanova

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Botulinum Toxin ◽

Upper Limb ◽

Goal Attainment ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type A ◽

Real Life ◽

Type A ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type ◽

Limb Spasticity

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Early Botulinum Toxin Type A Injection for Post-Stroke Spasticity: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Toxins ◽

10.3390/toxins13060374 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 374

Author(s):

Alessandro Picelli ◽

Andrea Santamato ◽

Michela Cosma ◽

Alessio Baricich ◽

Carmelo Chisari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Botulinum Toxin ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type A ◽

Type A ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type ◽

Stroke Onset ◽

Longitudinal Cohort Study ◽

Early Management ◽

Longitudinal Cohort ◽

Post Stroke

Early management of spasticity may improve stroke outcome. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) is recommended treatment for post-stroke spasticity (PSS). However, it is usually administered in the chronic phase of stroke. Our aim was to determine whether the length of time between stroke onset and initial BoNT-A injection has an effect on outcomes after PSS treatment. This multicenter, longitudinal, cohort study included stroke patients (time since onset <12 months) with PSS who received BoNT-A for the first time according to routine practice. The main outcome was the modified Ashworth scale (MAS). Patients were evaluated before BoNT-A injection and then at 4, 12, and 24 weeks of follow-up. Eighty-three patients with PSS were enrolled. MAS showed a significant decrease in PSS at 4 and 12 weeks but not at 24 weeks after treatment. Among the patients with a time between stroke onset and BoNT-A injection >90 days, the MAS were higher at 4 and 12 weeks than at 24 weeks compared to those injected ≤90 days since stroke. Our findings suggest that BoNT-A treatment for PSS should be initiated within 3 months after stroke onset in order to obtain a greater reduction in muscle tone at 1 and 3 months afterwards.

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Advances in botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of pain

10.53365/nrfhh/142165 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Shisheng Jiang ◽

Chaoming Huang ◽

Yantianyu Yang ◽

Shuhan Gao ◽

Zihan Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Botulinum Toxin ◽

Myofascial Pain ◽

Pain Treatment ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type A ◽

Type A ◽

Botulinum Toxin Type ◽

Research Progress ◽

Contaminated Food ◽

Current Article ◽

Foodborne Botulism

<i>Clostridium botulinum</i> (CB) is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium and a significant cause of food spoilage. Foodborne botulism occurs worldwide every year and even lead to death from respiratory distress in severe cases after eating botulism-contaminated food. The pathogenicity of CB lies in its ability to produce a potent neurotoxin, “botulinum toxin (BTX)”, for which eight different subtypes have already been isolated so far. Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) is widely used to treat critical clinical issues due to its good affinity and tolerability. Studies have shown that BTX-A injections effectively treat myofascial pain, inflammatory pain, and neuropathic pain. The current article mainly reviews the latest research progress using BTX-A in pain treatment during two years.

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