Can someone please help me answer this question. Please do not attempt to answer
ID: 3477898 • Letter: C
Question
Can someone please help me answer this question. Please do not attempt to answer this question unless you can answer all parts. Thank you.
Mr. Simmons did not properly can some home grown vegetables and it caused him to contract Botulism poisoning after eating them. The toxin produced by bacteria prevents skeletal muscles from contracting. The symptoms include difficulty swallowing and breathing. Mr. Simmons eventually died from respiratory failure.
a) What type of muscle paralysis is this? Why?
b) What is the botulism toxin mode of action?
c) Propose as many ways as you can to explain how botulism toxin produced the observed symptoms?
Explanation / Answer
a) this type of paralysis is flaccid paralysis. This weakness and reduced muscle tone is caused due to reduced release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.
b) The toxin prevents release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscluar junction and stop the signalling from CNS to the skeletal muscles which causes paralysis.
c) difficulty in swallowing and breathing:
Cranial nerves control swallowing which are the first to get affected by the toxin, as the nerves are inhibited, they stop releasing the neurotransmitters through which they commincate the muscles that they innervate that help in chewing and swallowing.
Respiratory problems arise due to the inactivation of the muscles of the respiration like- intercostal muscles. These muscles are under direct regulation of the respiration in the medulla. This centre maintains and regulate the respiratory muscles to influence inspiration and expiration. Respiratory failure occurs when these muscles have stopped working completely due to inhibition of nerve signalling, this leading to high carbon dioxide levels.