Botulism is a

Options

A. Type of food poisoning due to saprohytic bacterium
B. Disease in man due to parasitic bacterium
C. Disease in various organism
D. Disease of plants due to viruses.

Answer

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Nature of Botulism**:
- Botulism is a type of food poisoning. It occurs when a person consumes food that is contaminated with toxins produced by certain bacteria.

2. **Causative Agent**:
- The bacterium responsible for botulism is *Clostridium botulinum*. This bacterium is known for producing a potent toxin.

3. **Characteristics of *Clostridium botulinum***:
- *Clostridium botulinum* is a gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped bacterium. It is saprophytic, meaning it feeds on decaying organic matter, and it forms spores.

4. **Mechanism of Action**:
- The toxin produced by *Clostridium botulinum* is an exotoxin, specifically a neurotoxin. This neurotoxin affects the nervous system of the host.

5. **Effects on the Host**:
- The neurotoxin leads to muscle paralysis by inhibiting muscle contraction. This can result in severe symptoms, including difficulty in breathing, and can potentially lead to death.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, botulism is classified as a type of food poisoning caused by the saprophytic bacterium *Clostridium botulinum*.