INTRODUCTION 119 FORMS OF BOTULISM 119 ETIOLOGIC AGENTS OF INFANT BOTULISM 119 Clostridium botulinum 119 Other Botulinum Toxin-Producing Clostridia 120 CLINICAL ASPECTS 120 Clinical Symptoms 120 Diseases and Conditions Confused with Infant Botulism 120 Management of Hospitalized Patients 120 Hospitalization Costs 120 Link to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome 120 LABORATORY CONFIRMATION OF BOTULISM 121 Collection of Specimens 121 Shipment of Specimens to the Laboratory 121 Laboratory Testing of Specimens 121 PATHOGENICITY 121 Nature of the Neurotoxins 121 Pathogenesis 121 Mouse Models 122 INCIDENCE 122 ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS 122 Habitat of C. botulinum 122 Sources of C. botulinum for Infants 122 RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH INFANT BOTULISM 123 CONCLUDING COMMENTS 123 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 124 REFERENCES 124