In foodborne botulism, a patient symptoms may include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing and muscle weakness. What is botulinum toxin’s primary effect at the cellular level?
Botulinum toxin’s primary effect at the cellular level is to block the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction which leads to the inhibition of muscle contractions. Due to this, symptoms seen are blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness.
Lonati D, Schicchi A, Crevani M, et al. Foodborne Botulism: Clinical Diagnosis and Medical Treatment. Toxins (Basel). 2020;12(8):509. Published 2020 Aug 7. doi:10.3390/toxins12080509
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