Is botulism type C transmissible to human by consumption of contaminated poultry meat? Analysis of a suspect outbreak in French Guyana

Arnaud Martrenchar (1, 2) , Félix Djossou (3) , Cécile Stagnetto (3) , Céline Dupuy (1) , Elodie Brulez (1) , Christiane Attica (1) , Gérald Egmann (3) , Jérome Gruenfeld (3) , Jean-Michel Fontanella (3) , Michel-Robert Popoff (4)

1 Direction des Services Vétérinaires [Gyuane]
2 DGOM - direction générale des outre-mer
3 Centre Hospitalier Andrée Rosemon [Cayenne, Guyane Française]
4 CNR - Centre National de Référence des Bactéries Anaérobies et Botulisme - National Reference Center Anaerobic Bacteria and Botulism

Botulism type C was suspected in a 46-year old man after consumption of sick poultry from a flock where botulism type C was confirmed. The patient developed characteristic signs of botulism, but investigation of biological samples did not confirm the presence of Clostridium botulinum or botulinum toxin. Despite having classical botulism symptoms, the man recovered very quickly. This raises the question of botulism transmission to humans by ingestion of contaminated poultry.

Keywords: Botulism; Clostridium botulinum type C; Botulinum neurotoxin; Poultry

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Bacteriology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Subcellular Processes [q-bio.SC]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Cell Behavior [q-bio.CB]

Arnaud Martrenchar, Félix Djossou, Cécile Stagnetto, Céline Dupuy, Elodie Brulez, et al.. Is botulism type C transmissible to human by consumption of contaminated poultry meat? Analysis of a suspect outbreak in French Guyana. Anaerobe, 2019, 56, pp.49-50. ⟨10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.02.008⟩. ⟨pasteur-02448865⟩