CLOSTRIDIUM-BOTULINUM SUBTYPE-BA

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 257  (1) , 68-72
Abstract
Strain 657 was described as a toxin variant of C. botulinum type B. Neutralization tests performed with types A and B botulinal antitoxins of known potency and avidity at 20, 25, 50, 100, 200, 2000 and 20,000 mouse LD50 levels of testing, showed that 657 toxin is a mixture of B (.apprx. 95% of the complex) and A antigenic fractions. The possibility of a cross-contamination between A and B serotypes was practically ruled out through the serologic screening of the toxins from 100 well isolated colonies taken from 2 colony variants of this strain. Strain 657 rabbit antitoxin possesses A and B neutralizing activities. Strain B 657 produces a hitherto undescribed complex toxin and it represents the prototype of a new C. botulinum serotype, subtype Ba.