@article{Zhorzholiani_Chakvetadze_Katsitadze_Imnadze_2017, title={Spread of Clostridium botulinum in the soils of Georgia}, volume={9}, url={https://ojphi.org/ojs/index.php/ojphi/article/view/7754}, DOI={10.5210/ojphi.v9i1.7754}, abstractNote={<div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 284.47px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.08117);" data-canvas-width="56.563006734006734">Objective</div><div style="left: 93.1212px; top: 297.73px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.98492);" data-canvas-width="335.3324410774408">The main focus of this study was to study the spread of botulism in</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 312.511px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.977052);" data-canvas-width="286.1947424242424">Georgia and the biological characteristics of the strains of</div><div style="left: 366.124px; top: 312.511px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.993653);" data-canvas-width="62.682918013468004">Clostridium</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 327.292px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.987587);" data-canvas-width="50.95947474747474">botulinum</div><div style="left: 130.773px; top: 327.292px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00503);" data-canvas-width="197.85744781144783">isolated from territories in the country.</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 355.42px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.11744);" data-canvas-width="73.28565488215487">Introduction</div><div style="left: 93.1212px; top: 368.68px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00886);" data-canvas-width="88.62877878787879">Accumulation of</div><div style="left: 181.752px; top: 368.68px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.995825);" data-canvas-width="65.97342255892255">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 247.723px; top: 368.68px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.01443);" data-canvas-width="181.4652321548822">in soil occurs through excretion of</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 383.461px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.963992);" data-canvas-width="350.3790552188552">bacterial spores from the intestines of humans, animals, birds and</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 398.242px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.02316);" data-canvas-width="349.6804983164983">fish. In Georgia, during the winter season, the population consumes</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 413.023px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00827);" data-canvas-width="349.3136303030303">homemade vegetable preserves, which are made of locally produced</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 427.804px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.977341);" data-canvas-width="348.53592037037026">(as well as imported) vegetables. Historical surveys confirmed that the</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 442.585px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00226);" data-canvas-width="60.78701447811448">presence of</div><div style="left: 140.602px; top: 442.585px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.991274);" data-canvas-width="65.67188720538721">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 206.265px; top: 442.585px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00249);" data-canvas-width="222.63611548821544">in the soil is widespread. Some researchers</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 457.366px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00126);" data-canvas-width="45.707734006734">consider</div><div style="left: 125.522px; top: 457.366px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.990515);" data-canvas-width="65.62163131313129">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 191.139px; top: 457.366px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00456);" data-canvas-width="202.7197053872054">a characteristic component of soil flora.</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 485.494px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.0727);" data-canvas-width="51.65049326599326">Methods</div><div style="left: 93.1212px; top: 498.754px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.963294);" data-canvas-width="336.92806565656576">Soil samples were collected from areas, where from 2001-2002</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 513.535px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.975468);" data-canvas-width="348.5673303030303">cases of botulism caused by homemade vegetable preserves (produced</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 528.316px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.01389);" data-canvas-width="351.71963114478103">from vegetables cultivated in those areas) were registered. Soil</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 543.097px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.960713);" data-canvas-width="350.01972558922546">samples were collected from Kakheti, Shida Kartli, Kvemo Kartli,</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 557.878px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.985779);" data-canvas-width="350.4280547138045">Samtkhe-Javakheti, and Samegrelo regions. Standard bacteriology</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 572.659px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.986126);" data-canvas-width="232.79157491582487">and PCR were used to confirm the presence of</div><div style="left: 312.596px; top: 572.659px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.983593);" data-canvas-width="65.16304629629629">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 377.756px; top: 572.659px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.973684);" data-canvas-width="50.63155505050505">from soil</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 587.44px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.979503);" data-canvas-width="348.55602272727276">samples. Separation of strains and their examination was conducted in</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 602.222px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.999241);" data-canvas-width="348.96812104377085">accordance with the scheme provided by the CDC Atlanta Reference</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 617.003px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.04177);" data-canvas-width="350.20818518518513">Laboratory (USA), which was later tested by NCDC. Toxigenicity</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 631.784px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.03039);" data-canvas-width="349.9380597643096">and toxin production of strains were tested using a biotest on white</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 646.565px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00177);" data-canvas-width="27.5653569023569">mice.</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 674.693px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.08437);" data-canvas-width="45.38107070707071">Results</div><div style="left: 93.1212px; top: 687.952px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.960153);" data-canvas-width="336.96575757575755">In total, 258 soil samples were tested, from which, 40 (15.5%)</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 702.733px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.973966);" data-canvas-width="61.1488569023569">cultures of</div><div style="left: 140.945px; top: 702.733px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.98973);" data-canvas-width="68.68724074074073">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 209.614px; top: 702.733px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.977317);" data-canvas-width="220.98772222222226">type B were obtained. Toxigenicity and</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 717.515px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.0066);" data-canvas-width="351.35276313131345">toxin production were confirmed through biotests. These results</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 732.296px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.966876);" data-canvas-width="129.49687037037032">confirm the presence of</div><div style="left: 209.274px; top: 732.296px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.980859);" data-canvas-width="68.07160606060604">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 277.329px; top: 732.296px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.959345);" data-canvas-width="152.90355218855214">in agricultural lands, which</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 747.077px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.01276);" data-canvas-width="349.48575673400666">causes contamination of vegetables cultivated on those lands, which</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 761.858px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.980439);" data-canvas-width="348.33364040404024">are used for the preparation of homemade preserves, causing botulism</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 776.639px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00048);" data-canvas-width="55.14327777777777">in humans.</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 804.767px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: sans-serif; transform: scaleX(1.10256);" data-canvas-width="75.39640235690236">Conclusions</div><div style="left: 93.1212px; top: 818.026px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.96805);" data-canvas-width="337.3652919191918">For the purpose of finding solutions to botulism, it is essential</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 832.807px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.02362);" data-canvas-width="351.9533210437709">to verify the ecology of the pathogen through establishing the</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 847.589px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00282);" data-canvas-width="349.0799404040403">prevalence of bacteria in different soil types. It was shown that some</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 862.37px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00442);" data-canvas-width="349.13522188552184">areas of Georgia, where vegetable growing is greatly developed, and</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 877.151px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.02901);" data-canvas-width="349.74331818181827">which, are the main sources of crops, are highly contaminated with</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 891.932px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00474);" data-canvas-width="66.56392929292929">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 146.415px; top: 891.932px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.03033);" data-canvas-width="283.11656902356907">. In Georgia, land used for agriculture is contaminated</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 906.713px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00051);" data-canvas-width="25.47973737373737">with</div><div style="left: 104.888px; top: 906.713px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.984352);" data-canvas-width="65.21330218855218">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 170.097px; top: 906.713px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.999786);" data-canvas-width="6.281986531986531">.</div><div style="left: 175.971px; top: 906.713px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.984352);" data-canvas-width="65.21330218855218">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 241.18px; top: 906.713px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.98348);" data-canvas-width="187.2710441077441">type B was isolated from 40 cultures</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 921.494px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.03069);" data-canvas-width="349.9694696969697">obtained from 258 soil samples, which represents contamination in</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 936.275px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.954282);" data-canvas-width="350.062443097643">15.5% of sampled areas. These results suggest that vegetables and</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 951.057px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.973708);" data-canvas-width="281.3852535353533">melons may be highly contaminated as well. All cases of</div><div style="left: 361.175px; top: 951.057px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.973144);" data-canvas-width="64.47077138047139">C. botulinum</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 965.838px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.988196);" data-canvas-width="348.5861762626262">in humans that were researched were connected to homemade canned</div><div style="left: 79.8182px; top: 980.619px; font-size: 12.564px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.00191);" data-canvas-width="56.173523569023565">vegetables.</div>}, number={1}, journal={Online Journal of Public Health Informatics}, author={Zhorzholiani, Ekaterine and Chakvetadze, Neli and Katsitadze, Guram and Imnadze, Paata}, year={2017}, month={May} }