Botulism

Abstract

Equine botulism is being recognized with increasing frequency by veterinarians throughout North America. Muscular weakness and dysphagia that progress during a period of 1 to 4 days, in the absence of laboratory derangements that indicate the presence of systemic disease, are suggestive of botulism. A tentative diagnosis usually is based on the presence of the following findings on physical examination: delayed pupillary light response, mydriasis, ptosis, generalized weakness, decreased tail tone, and slow prehension of feed. Definitive diagnosis requires detection of botulinum toxin in plasma, serum, gastrointestinal contents, or body tissues. Early treatment with antitoxin generally results in a favorable outcome. Botulism in foals and adult horses can be prevented by vaccination.

Botulism in horses: a case report

“…The onset of clinical signs begins a few hours or days after botulotoxin ingestion. Normal laboratory values in light of neurological deficits support the diagnosis of botulism (Whitlock and Buckley, 1997;Galey, 2001;Coffield and Whelchel, 2007;Wilkins, 2007).…”

“…Affected horses may be recumbent within 8-12 hours of toxin intake. Rapid development of clinical signs has a poor prognosis (Whitlock and Buckley, 1997). Because of the different clinical course of botulism in horses from Case 1 we can suppose an unequal distribution of Cl.…”

“…However, chewing was very slow and with an extended neck. Therefore the standard Whitlock and Buckley (1997) test for the amount of grain consumed was performed. The time needed for uptake of 250 ml of oats was four minutes.…”

“…It can occur in all species of mammals and birds. The horse as a species is extremely sensitive to botulotoxin (Whitlock and Buckley, 1997;Galey, 2001). The disease is caused by exotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum, an obligate anaerobic, spore-forming, gram-positive rod.…”

“…Eight different botulinum toxins are produced and are designated as types A, B, C 1 , C 2 , D, E, F and G (Coffield and Whelchel, 2007). Three types of botulinum intoxication have been described in horses (Whitlock and Buckley, 1997;Coffield and Whelchel, 2007;Wilkins, 2007):…”