Adult Botulism of Unknown Source with Post-Toxin Anti-GQ1b Antibodies: Implications for Molecular Mimicry-A Case Report.

ABSTRACT: Background: Botulism is a rare but potentially fatal neuroparalytic illness caused by Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs). While adult cases usually result from foodborne exposure or wound infection, intestinal colonization is exceedingly uncommon. Diagnosis can be delayed by overlap with other neuromuscular syndromes, and confirmation requires specialized assays. Anti-GQ1b antibodies, classically associated with Miller-Fisher syndrome (MFS), have rarely been reported in confirmed botulism, raising questions about shared pathophysiology. Case Presentation: We describe an adult patient with acute dyspnea, xerostomia, and cranial neuropathies. No foodborne source was identified, but intestinal colonization of BoNT/B toxigenic Clostridium botulinum was confir

SUBMITTER: Cohen R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844876 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature