[Detection of Clostridium botulinum toxin in the blood of patients and in meat products].

Epidemiological data from the whole country reveal that insufficiently salted and dried hams are the main cause of the botulism in our country. In suspected hams as well as in a small number of patients' sera Cl Botulinum toxin type B was the most frequently found one up to the present time. Cl botulinum toxin was examined in our laboratory for several years and it was confirmed by the biologic test in 50% samples of the incriminated home made ham and in 35% patients' sera samples. Toxins type A and 1 were found in sera and in ham samples only toxin type B was found. It is suggested that consumers should be better informed concerning the risk of insufficiently processed delicatessen intake.