Clostridium botulinum is a peritrichious, strictly anaerobly growing, bacillar, spore-forming bacterium, which produces a dangerous toxin. When orally ingested, the toxin, after incubation period of 18-36 hours, causes a variety of poisoning symptoms, summarized as botulism. They primarly affect muscles and the autonomous nervous system. The subtypes A & B of botulinum toxin are used as injections against a lot of neuromuscular diseases, e.g. in case of blepharospasm, oromandibular dystony, or spasmodic torticollis. It can be used against hyperhidrosis. The most well-known area of application is the injection into the facial skin, which paralyzes the mimic muscles in order to prevent wrinkles.
