An outbreak of type C botulism in 12 horses and a mule

Abstract

A USDA Early Response Team investigated deaths of several horses and a mule in northern Arizona at the request of local animal health officials. Thirteen animals (12 horses and 1 mule) housed at 5 facilities in a 7.4 square mile area died between August 1998 and January 1999. Clinical signs consisted of muscular weakness that rapidly progressed to lateral recumbency. Ten animals had paresis of the tongue, throat, or lips. Affected animals appeared alert and were interested in eating and drinking, even while recumbent. All 13 animals were euthanatized. Clostridium botulinum type C was isolated from feces or intestinal contents from 3 affected horses. Preformed toxin was detected in samples of soil and bird droppings collected from a nearby horse burial site. It was hypothesized that the outbreak was a result of birds, presumably ravens, feeding at the burial site and at horse facilities in the area that transferred toxin to the affected animals.

Detection of Botulinum Type E Toxin in Channel Catfish with Visceral Toxicosis Syndrome Using Catfish Bioassay and Endopep Mass Spectrometry

“…One-tenth ml of serum from affected catfish injected intracoelomically in 5-to 10-g experimental fingerlings produced mortality, but 0.4 ml of the same sera injected intraperitoneally in experimental 20-g mice (used for the mouse bioassay) did not cause mortality, which suggests that the catfish is more sensitive than the mouse to BoNT E. Reports that domestic animals are more sensitive to BoNT than the mouse are well documented. 13,19,21 Previous experiments with BoNT in salmonids demonstrate that salmonids are twice as sensitive as the mouse when the toxin is given by the intraperitoneal route. 8 Titration studies are needed to determine the LD 50 of BoNT E for the catfish.…”

“…26 To produce its toxic effect, BoNT must bind to its substrate at the neuromuscular junction, and the bound BoNT is not free to circulate in blood. 13,19,21 Therefore, the quantity of free BoNT in the sera used for the catfish bioassay and Endopep-MS assay was likely less than the original blood concentration that killed the affected catfish.…”

“…Botulism can be difficult to diagnose because some animal species are extremely susceptible to the toxin 19,21 and C. botulinum is not always detectable in intoxicated animals by culture or PCR. 5,10,21 If botulism was the possible cause of VTC, the conventional assays may lack the sensitivity for its detection.…”

“…5,10,21 If botulism was the possible cause of VTC, the conventional assays may lack the sensitivity for its detection. This manuscript reports the design of a catfish neutralization assay based on the mouse neutralization bioassay 4 with sufficient sensitivity to detect botulism in catfish with visceral toxicosis and From the Mississippi State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Stoneville, MS 38776 (Gaunt), and the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCEH/DLS, Atlanta, GA 30341 (Kalb, Barr).the confirmation of this method by the Endopep mass spectrometry (Endopep-MS) assay.…”

Intoxicação natural por <i>Clostridium botulinum</i> tipo “C” em grupo de aves domésticas.

“…Surtos acometem várias espécies em todo o mundo: bovinos (SCHOCKEN-ITURRINO et al, 1990b;LIVESEY et al, 2004), eqüinos (SCHOENBAUM et al, 2000, cães, gatos ELAD et al, 2004 e certamente aves silvestres e domésticas (SCHOCKEN-ITURRINO et al, 1990c;SCHOCKEN-ITURRINO, 2007).…”