Bossi P, Tegnell A, Baka A, Werner A, van Loock F, Hendriks J, Maidhof H, Gouvras G
Task Force on Biological and Chemical Agent Threats, Public Health Directorate, European Commission, Luxembourg.
Euro Surveill. 2004 Dec;9(12):31-32. doi: 10.2807/esm.09.12.00505-en.
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin, which is produced by the Clostridium botulinum. This toxin is the most poisonous substance known. It 100 000 times more toxic than sarin gas. Eating or breathing this toxin causes illness in humans. Four distinct clinical forms are described: foodborne, wound, infant and intestinal botulism. The fifth form, inhalational botulism, is caused by aerosolised botulinum toxin that could be used as a biological weapon. A deliberate release may also involve contamination of food or water supplies with toxin or C. botulinum bacteria. By inhalation, the dose that would kill 50% of exposed persons (LD50) is 0.003 microgrammes/kg of body weight. Patients with respiratory failure must be admitted to an intensive care unit and require long-term mechanical ventilation. Trivalent equine antitoxins (A,B,E) must be given to patients as soon as possible after clinical diagnosis. Heptavalent human antitoxins (A-G) are available in certain countries.
肉毒中毒是一种由肉毒杆菌产生的肉毒杆菌毒素引起的罕见但严重的麻痹性疾病。这种毒素是已知的最毒物质。它的毒性比沙林毒气高10万倍。摄入或吸入这种毒素会导致人类患病。肉毒中毒有四种不同的临床类型：食源性、伤口性、婴儿型和肠道型。第五种类型，吸入性肉毒中毒，是由雾化的肉毒杆菌毒素引起的，这种毒素可被用作生物武器。蓄意释放还可能涉及用毒素或肉毒杆菌污染食物或水源。通过吸入，能杀死50%暴露人群的剂量（半数致死剂量）为0.003微克/千克体重。呼吸衰竭患者必须入住重症监护病房，并需要长期机械通气。临床诊断后必须尽快给患者注射三价马抗毒素（A、B、E型）。某些国家有七价人抗毒素（A - G型）。
