Clostridium botulinumspores in Polish honey samples

Abstract

The aim of this study was an examination of 240 multifloral honey samples collected from Polish apiaries to determine Clostridium botulinum occurrence. Honey was collected from apiaries directly after the extraction process. Samples were inoculated by using the dilution and centrifugation method. Suspected isolates were examined by using mouse bioassay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and real-time PCR methods. C. botulinum type A and B strains were detected in 5 of 240 examined honey samples (2.1%). Bacterial strains were also detected that were phenotypically similar to C. botulinum but that did not exhibit the ability to produce botulinum toxins and did not show the presence of the botulinum cluster (ntnh and bont genes) or expression of the ntnh gene. The methods used in the examination, especially the expression analysis of ntnh gene, enabled specific analysis of suspected strains and could be used routinely in environmental isolate analyses of C. botulinum occurrence.

Rapid Detection of Clostridium botulinum in Food Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)

“…Previous studies using PCR technology extensively utilized the ntnh gene as the DNA marker to detect the bont gene clusters with high specificity and sensitivity [ 15 , 19 , 20 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 70 ]. Studies using LAMP technology to detect the BoNT-producing Clostridium botulinum types A and B showed high specificity with the bont genes [ 56 ].…”

“…Studies also showed that the neurotoxin is particularly dangerous for children under one year of age, because the normal intestinal flora of infants is not strong enough to reject the botulinum completely, rendering the bacteria the opportunity to grow and reproduce, secrete toxins, and cause poisoning (i.e., infant botulism) [ 13 , 14 ]. The botulinum poisoning in animals is also commonly happening [ 15 , 16 ], including the outbreak of the type C toxin in birds in Incheon, South Korea [ 17 ], the identification of the botulinum spores in the honey produced in Republic of Serbia [ 18 ] and Poland [ 19 ], and the contamination of honey in the Republic of Kazakhstan [ 20 ].…”

Clostridium botulinum and Clostridium perfringens Occurrence in Kazakh Honey Samples

“…The C. botulinum prevalence in honey samples from Kazakhstan (0.5%) is lower than that of samples collected from other regions (2–60%) [1,8,21,22,23,24,29]. According to the literature, the conditions of honey harvest, extraction, type of soil, climate, intensiveness of agricultural production, and occurrence of environmental phenomena have influence on clostridia spore content in honey samples.…”

“…Küplülü et al [22] reported a 12.5% level in Turkish samples after examination for C. botulinum spores. Samples of honey from Poland were examined by two research groups; the occurrence of contamination was estimated at 2% by Grenda et al [23], while the level described by Wojtacka et al [24] was significantly higher and reached 22%. Lithuanian honey sold directly by the apiarist was also examined by Wojtacka et al [25] and the level of 60% positive samples is the highest reported in literature until now.…”

Complete Genome Sequence of an African Raw Honey Bacterial Isolate, Bacillus safensis Strain AHB11

“…Raw honey has garnered much attention for its antimicrobial activity against an assortment of pathogenic bacteria ( 1 – 12 ). Due to its potent antimicrobial activity, honey is considered a very restrictive niche, with only a few spore-forming microorganisms being able to survive this harsh environment ( 13 – 20 ). Here, we report the complete genome sequence of a bacterium that was isolated from African raw honey originating in Kajo Keji, South Sudan, which we defined as Bacillus safensis and designated strain AHB11 for African honey bacterial isolate 11.…”