In Situ Detection of the Clostridium botulinum Type C(1) Toxin Gene in Wetland Sediments with a Nested PCR Assay

A nested PCR was developed for detection of the Clostridium botulinum type C(1) toxin gene in sediments collected from wetlands where avian botulism outbreaks had or had not occurred. The C(1) toxin gene was detected in 16 of 18 sites, demonstrating both the ubiquitous distribution of C. botulinum type C in wetland sediments and the sensitivity of the detection assay.