Type A and type B botulism in the North: first reported cases due to toxin other than type E in Alaskan Inuit.

Botulism outbreaks shown to be due to type A and type B toxin occurred in Alaska, a region previously known for only type E botulism. The outbreak due to type A toxin involved three people, two of whom died. The outbreak due to type B toxin involved nine people, none of whom died. Both outbreaks wer...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Barrett, D. H., Eisenberg, M. S., Bender, T. R., Burks, J. M., Hatheway, C. L., Dowell, V. R.
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1977
Subjects:
Research Article
Arctic
Alaskan Inuit
inuit
Alaska
Online Access:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1879961
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/332309
Description
Summary:Botulism outbreaks shown to be due to type A and type B toxin occurred in Alaska, a region previously known for only type E botulism. The outbreak due to type A toxin involved three people, two of whom died. The outbreak due to type B toxin involved nine people, none of whom died. Both outbreaks were in Inuit villages, and native foods were incriminated. The occurrence of these outbreaks strongly suggests that Clostridium botulinum, types A and B are indigenous to Alaska. The outbreaks underscore the need for initial treatment of patients with antitoxin that is trivalent (ABE), even in Arctic regions.

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