What diseases are caused by the spore-forming bacteria?
Two major genera of spore forming bacteria are Bacillus- one species of which (B. cereus)can cause food poisoning. However this is not an infectious disease the growing bacteria leaves a heat stable toxin in the food as it grows ,causing anyone who eats it vomiting and diarrhoea Bacillus anthracis- a soil organism, spores can enter through cuts or be inhaled.The bacteria can multply in the blood giving rise to (rapidly fatal) septicemia . If the spores enter shallow skin abrasions they can give rise to localised (and non-fatal) Cutaneous anthrax Clostridia -these are anaerobic C. tetani -found in soil, if embedded in a deep wound it can start to grow producing a powerful neurological toxin which causes muscles to contract involuntarily and permanently.This is “Tetanus” (or Lockjaw) can be fatal if the toxin reaches heart or lung muscle C perfringens (was C.welschii). Causes “gangrene” A small focus of infection which can spread (sometimes very rapidly) as the bacteria are able to produ
