A comparison of the distribution of Clostridium botulinum in soil and in lake mud.

In 1975, 25 soil samples were collected from the London area. Of these, 20 were obtained 200-300 yards from 20 lakes that had been shown in 1974 to contain mud contaminated with one or more of types of B, C, D, and E of clostridium botulinum. By means of a technique comparable with that use for the examination of mud, the 20 soil samples were found negative. The remaining 5 soil samples, obtained from sites that were not in close proximity to lakes, were also negative except for one that contained type B.