What is already known about this topic? Foodborne botulism is prevalent in northwestern China, linked to traditional homemade foods. Recently, some cases have been linked to commercial vacuum-packaged ready-to-eat meat products. Soil is a potential contamination source, yet genomic information on environmental isolates from high-incidence regions remains scarce. What is added by this report? This study presents the first genomic characterization of 23 C. botulinum isolates obtained from soil and soybean samples in Northwest China. Four botulinum neurotoxin subtypes, A5(B3), B2, B3, and B4, were identified, each demonstrating notable geographic and metabolic diversity. Subtype-specific genomic adaptations, transposase insertions, and an incomplete prophage carrying bont in one isolate were observed, suggesting historical horizontal gene transfer. What are the implications for public health practice? Soils in high-incidence regions may act as persistent reservoirs of C. botulinum, emphasizing the need for targeted evidence-based public health interventions. Strengthening hygiene and sanitation practices during food processing, along with enhanced surveillance of both traditional and commercial food products, are essential to prevent future foodborne botulism outbreaks in endemic regions.
Yongsi et al. (Thu,) studied this question.