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Survey of soils for spores of Clostridium botulinum (union of South Africa and South West Africa)
Author(s) -
Knock G. G.
Publication year - 1952
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2740030208
Subject(s) - clostridium botulinum , botulism , clostridiaceae , clostridium , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , spore , botulinum toxin , isolation (microbiology) , biology , bacteria , genetics , neuroscience
The absence of any authenticated case of human botulism in South Africa suggested that Clostridium botulinum Types A, B or E might be rare organisms in the soils of this country. Three out of 102 samples of soil from the Union of South Africa and South West Africa produced Clostridium botulinum Type‐B toxin when cultured. Clostridium botulinum Type B was obtained in pure culture from the three toxic cultures by a method described. The isolation in South Africa of Clostridium botulinum Type B is reported for the first time : a description of the strains is given. The factors which militate against toxin production by Clostridium botulinum in cultures of soil are discussed, and the probable operation of these same factors in reducing the chances of toxin formation in foods is suggested.