An overview of the Role of Clostridium botulinum in Honey: Pathogenesis, Detection, and Public Health Implications

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum neurotoxins causing a rare but serious illness known as botulism. Botulism continues to pose significant public health risks, particularly in the context of foodborne outbreaks and infant botulism. This thesis investigates the occurrence of C. botulinum contamination in honey, highlighting the pathogen’s association with infant botulism and the challenges in detecting botulism-causing strains.