Genetic confirmation of identities of neurotoxigenic Clostridium baratii and Clostridium butyricum implicated as agents of infant botulism

Abstract

Two unusual neurotoxigenic clostridia isolated from fecal specimens from patients with type F and type E infant botulism were phenotypically identical to the existing species Clostridium baratii and C. butyricum, respectively. DNA hybridization experiments confirmed that one strain was C. baratii and that the other was C. butyricum. These species therefore do contain neurotoxigenic strains and are possible causes of infant botulism.