Final answer:
The presence of facial paralysis is a sign that helps to differentiate botulism from listeriosis. Botulism's neurological symptoms, including facial paralysis, are not commonly associated with listeriosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
One sign that helps to differentiate botulism from listeriosis is the presence of facial paralysis. Botulism, caused by the toxin from Clostridium botulinum, often presents with neurological symptoms such as blurred vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, and progressive flaccid paralysis, all of which can lead to facial paralysis. These symptoms are due to the toxin interfering with neurotransmitter release in the peripheral nervous system. In stark contrast, listeriosis typically does not involve facial paralysis. Instead, listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, often presents with fever and septicemia, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, without the distinctive neurological involvement seen in botulism.