A Case Report of a Botulism Outbreak in Beef Cattle Due to the Contamination of Wheat by a Roaming Cat Carcass: From the Suspicion to the Management of the Outbreak

Abstract

We report a botulism outbreak in Charolais cattle fed with wheat flour contaminated by Clostridium botulinum type C and the management of the outbreak at each step from the clinical suspicion to the cleaning and disinfection operations. Diagnosis was based on typical suggestive clinical signs and detection of C. botulinum type C using real-time PCR in samples collected from three young affected bulls. All young exposed bulls and cows (18 animals) eventually died, but three young bulls and one cow were recovering when it was decided to euthanize them. C. botulinum type C was detected in the liver of these four animals. Analysis of the ration components demonstrated that wheat flour, wheat, and the mill used to make flour were positive for C. botulinum type C. A dead cat positive for C. botulinum type C was discovered in the silo where wheat grain was stored and was considered the source of contamination. The cat’s entire body was found mummified, well preserved, and not rotting in the silo. Specific measures, in particular, vaccination of the rest of the herd and cleaning and disinfection operations, were implemented to prevent any recurrence of the outbreak. The presence of wild animal carcasses in feed harboring anaerobic conditions like silage, in particular during harvesting, are known to be at risk for the initiation of a botulism outbreak. This outbreak is a reminder that the presence of an animal carcass in feed, regardless of the kind of feed and whenever the contamination occurs, either during harvesting or storage, is sufficient to induce a botulism outbreak.

Modification and validation of the Endopep-mass spectrometry method for botulinum neurotoxin detection in liver samples with application to samples collected during animal botulism outbreaks

“…BoNT-C activity has previously been determined by Endopep-MS in a liver sample from a Swedish black and white cow [ 35 ], but it was not concluded whether it was BoNT-C or C/D. BoNT-C has previously been described to cause botulism in cattle in France [ 36 ] and Italy [ 37 ], although the mosaic BoNT-D/C has been demonstrated to be the most common cause in this species in Italy [ 38 ] and France [ 15 ].

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Asymptomatic Carriage of C. botulinum Type D/C in Broiler Flocks as the Source of Contamination of a Massive Botulism Outbreak on a Dairy Cattle Farm

“…The liver, gall bladder, rectal contents, ruminal contents, feces, and intestines were frozen before shipment to the laboratory. C. botulinum types C, D, C/D, and D/C in these samples were screened for as previously described ( Le Maréchal et al, 2019 ). Ruminal contents from the two investigated cows as well as rectal contents from one cow were positive for C. botulinum type D/C using real-time PCR after enrichment in trypticase peptone-glucose-yeast extract (TPGY) broth.…”

“…Enrichment of 226 samples, DNA extraction and PCR were performed as previously described ( Le Maréchal et al, 2019 ).…”

“…Culture Conditions, DNA Extraction, and Real-Time PCR Enrichment of 226 samples, DNA extraction and PCR were performed as previously described (Le Maréchal et al, 2019).…”

Causes of death in feedlot beef cattle and their control: a brief review

“…In feedlot beef cattle, conditions such as botulism (Maboni et al 2010, Soares et al 2018, Guizelini et al 2019, Le Maréchal et al 2019 occasionally cause economic losses in feedlot beef cattle operations. The study of an outbreak of botulism in the Midwest region with morbidity and mortality of 0.4% and a financial loss of more than US $ 13,000.00 is described (Curci et al 2013).…”