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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
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Tue, 4 Sep 2007 01:12:30 GMT
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>>Information from the literature on the minimum infectious dose is
extremely sparse. A commonly cited estimate is that the minimum infectious dose is 10-100 spores. This estimate is based on reports that honey samples that have been associated with infant botulism contain 5-25 spores per g, and 5-70 spores...

Thank you, Mike.  What I have read so far indicates that 1) honey (as well as other raw foods) may contain botulism spores and 2) infants can contract botulism from multiple sources and the condition can be fatal.

I have not seen direct evidence that b. spores contained in honey alone cause botulism outbreaks in healthy infants.  This is not to take the possibility lightly but, if b. spores, are also found in cleaner dust and other sources, should not those be banned or at least mentioned to parents as unacceptable around children.  Seems honey is singled out as the only culprit.

As a parent of an infant, I'd love to see a Pareto chart listing in descending order by spore count the various sources of b. spores.

Waldemar

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