Management of Animal Botulism Outbreaks: From Clinical Suspicion to Practical Countermeasures to Prevent or Minimize Outbreaks

Botulism in ruminants in Brazil

“…Treatment of botulism in cattle is based on the administration of botulinum antitoxin serum. However, this therapy has low efficacy because ruminants are extremely sensitive to botulinum toxin, requiring the application of antiserum as quickly as possible, which is not always viable (ANNIBALLI et al, 2013). The fact that large numbers of animals are affected in disease outbreaks also makes the treatment practically impossible on commercial farms, and euthanasia is generally applied.…”

“…Therefore, the main goal in cattle is to identify the toxin before it reaches the bloodstream, which makes the liver and the stomach and intestinal contents the preferred specimens for toxin detection (ANNIBALLI et al, 2013;LOBATO et al, 2013). Clinical samples for detection of botulinum toxin should be sent to the laboratory under refrigeration.…”

“…Other differential diagnoses in cattle include bovine herpesvirus 5 encephalitis; listeriosis; toxicosis caused by ticks; polioencephalomalacia; hypocalcemia; hypomagnesemia; intoxications by lead, sodium chloride, organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons; ingestion of mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus clavatus (known as the barley fungus); and ingestion of plants from genus Senna spp. (LOBATO et al, 2007;ANNIBALLI et al, 2013;CARVALHO et al, 2014).…”

“…In addition to vaccination, other basic measures for the prevention of botulism in cattle are the supply of balanced minerals, safe water and high-quality feed; not using poultry litter in animal production; and care during silage and feed preparation and stocking to avoid accidental incorporation of animal carcasses, especially of birds and rodents (LOBATO et al, 2007;ANNIBALLI et al, 2013;LOBATO et al, 2013). It is also important to decrease environmental contamination by C. botulinum spores by removing carcasses from pastures and disposing of them correctly (SOUZA & LANGENEGGER 1987).…”

Type C waterborne botulism outbreaks in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in the Amazon region

“…Once ingested, the active toxin is absorbed in the small intestine, released into the bloodstream, and eventually reaches the peripheral cholinergic nerve endings. In the nerve endings, the toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine and produces the typical symptom of flaccid paralysis (Anniballi et al 2013). The period of incubation and disease severity depends on the amount of toxin ingested and the animal's sensitivity to BoNTs.…”