Botulism is a severe neuroparalytic disease known to affect mammals, birds and fish. The term botulism is derived from the Latin botulus (sausage) and the name was originally given to a disease of humans reported mainly in central Europe in the 1800sthat was generally associated with sausage consumption. It was not until late in the 19th century that the disease was shown to be caused by a neurotoxic exotoxin produced by an anaerobic sporulating bacillus initially named Bacillus botulinus and laterrenamed Clostridium botulinum.
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