The cholinergic heat-labile neurotoxin produced by Clostridium species is primarily responsible for the clinical manifestations of botulism. The classic phenotypic presentation of botulism consists of subacute descending flaccid paralysis with intact sensory function. Traditionally, it is classified into 3 main forms (foodborne, wound-related, and infantile) on the basis of primary site of toxin entry into the human nervous system. Toxemia is the common pathophysiology in all forms of botulism. Adult intestinal toxemia botulism is an extremely rare form of the disease with pathogenesis similar to that of infant-type botulism.
