FURTHER INDICATIONS OF CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM IN LATIN AMERICAN WATERS

Both various types of fish found near the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia and the ocean sediment were screened for the presence of C. botulinum. The entire intestinal tract of each fish specimen served as inoculum. Of 82 fish specimens, only 2 showed contamination by mouse inoculation tests. Of 114 sea-bottom samples, including coral-shell, sand-shell, sand, or mud-sand, 7 indicated the presence of C. botulinum. South American waters were delineated according to the type of clostridium found in each zone sampled.