Botulism - Etiology and Pathophysiology
Even though botulism is a rare nowadays, botulinum neurotoxin has been considered a weapon of mass destruction for over 60 years. It is considered the deadliest toxin known to this day due to its high potency and lethality. This potentially fatal syndrome is caused by the systemic effects of an exo neurotoxin produced by the gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The ways of exposure to the toxin include improperly-stored food, iatrogenic injection (bioterrorism), or via wound infection. As such, toxin entry into the bloodstream depends on the type of exposure- ingestion, inhalation or wound contamination with spore. All the details by the link.