Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vpsfw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-18T15:24:58.706Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Clostridium botulinum in aquatic environments in Great Britain and Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. R. Smith ,
R. A. Milligan  and
Caroline J. Moryson
G. R. Smith
Affiliation:
Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, LondonNW1 4RY
R. A. Milligan
Affiliation:
Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, LondonNW1 4RY
Caroline J. Moryson
Affiliation:
Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, LondonNW1 4RY
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Mud samples from aquatic environments in many parts of Great Britain and Ireland were collected, mainly in 1975 and 1976, and examined for Clostridium botulinum. The samples were taken from lakes, ponds, reservoirs, marshes, mud-fiats, streams, rivers and canals, and the sampling areas included a number of bird refuges and reserves. Of 554 samples 194 (35·0%) were positive and 167 (30·1 %), 19 (3·4%), 6 (1·1%) and 15 (2·7%) contained types B, C, D and E respectively; 13 (2·3%) contained more than one type. Each type demonstrated was found in both fresh-and salt-water environments. Type B was widespread; types C, D and E were demonstrated in widely separated areas in England and Wales, and type C was found in both the north and south of Scotland. The results were compared with those reported earlier in respect of surveys in the London area, the Norfolk Broads and the Camargue (France).

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 80 , Issue 3 , June 1978 , pp. 431 - 438
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

References

REFERENCES

Borland, E. D., Moryson, C. J. & Smith, G. R. (1977). Avian botulism and the high prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in the Norfolk Broads. Veterinary Record 100, 106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cann, D. C., Wilson, B. B. & Hobbs, O. (1968). Incidence of Clostridium botulinum in bottom deposits in British coastal waters. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 31, 511.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Eklund, M. W. & Poysky, F. T. (1974). Interconversion of type C and D strains of Clostridium botulinum by specific bacteriophages. Applied Microbiology 27, 251.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Haagsma, J. (1974). Etiology and epidemiology of botulism in water-fowl in the Netherlands. Tijdschrift voor Diergeneeskunde 99, 434.Google Scholar
Haines, R. B. (1942). The occurrence of toxigenic anaerobes, especially Clostridium botulinum, in some English soils. Journal of Hygiene 42, 323.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Leighton, G. R. (1923). Report of the circumstances attending the deaths of eight persons from botulism at Loch Maree (Ross-shire). Report of the Scottish Board of Health. Edinburgh: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Leighton, O. R. & Buxton, J. B. (1928). The distribution of Bacillus botulinus in Scottish soils. Journal of Hygiene 28, 79.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meyer, K. F. & Dubovsky, B. J. (1922). The occurrence of the spores of Bacillus botulinus in Belgium, Denmark, England, the Netherlands and Switzerland: VI. Journal of Infectious Diseases 31. 600.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, G. R. & Moryson, C. J. (1975). Clostridium botulinum in the lakes and waterways of London. Journal of Hygiene 75, 371.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, G. R. & Moryson, C. J. (1977 a). The low prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in the lakes, marshes and waterways of the Camargue. Journal of Hygiene 78, 33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, G. R. & Moryson, C. J. (1977 b). A comparison of the distribution of Clostridium botulinum in soil and in lake mud. Journal of Hygiene 78, 39.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, L. D. S. (1975). Inhibition of Clostridium botulinum by strains of Clostridium perfringens isolated from the soil. Applied Microbiology 30, 319.CrossRefGoogle Scholar