Association between Key‐Gaskell syndrome and infection by Clostridium botulinum type C/D

Abstract

There is growing evidence that equine dysautonomia is a toxicoinfection with Clostridium botulinum type C. The possibility that feline dysautonomia has the same aetiology was investigated by attempting to detect botulinum type C neurotoxin in the food, faeces and the contents of the ileum of affected cats, and by serology. The toxin was detected directly in four of eight affected cats and after enrichment in seven of them, and in their dried food. No toxin was detected in healthy control cats or in their tinned food. Recent exposure to the organism was assessed by the detection of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the faeces of healthy control cats and affected cats. The levels of IgA antibodies to the toxin and to surface antigens of C. botulinum type C in the faeces of the affected cats 14 weeks after the outbreak were significantly higher than in the faeces of the control cats.

Alterations in amino acid status in cats with feline dysautonomia

“…Instead, we hypothesise that SAA depletion may reflect exposure of FD and in-contact cats to xenobiotics, since SAA are strong nucleophiles that trap, reduce, detoxify and facilitate the excretion of electrophilic compounds and free radicals derived from dietary toxins such as mycotoxins, plant lectins, sesquiterpene lactones and toxic amino acids [10–13]. Previous epidemiological investigations on all three premises [14–16], and of other FD clusters [3,30–31] have failed to identify potential causal xenobiotics with the exception of Clostridium botulinum type C neurotoxin [32]. While there is an association between C .…”

Disorders of the Face, Tongue, Esophagus, Larynx, and Ear

“…206,207 Many of the cases in the United States occurred in cats that had been recently imported from the United Kingdom. 209 Like equine dysautonomia, affected cats display signs related to gastrointestinal dysfunction. Younger cats tend to be affected.…”

Key-Gaskell syndrome in Brazil: first case report

“…Strong circumstantial evidence of an association between feline dysautonomia and Clostridium botulinum type C has been provided. Its toxin was detected in samples from the affected cats (Nunn et al, 2004). Interestingly, in this report, although the cat used to live in an urban area, he had no outdoor access, nor contact with other animals, however, there was an episode when it hunted and ate parts of a dove.…”

“…On the other hand, Symonds et al (1995) and Nunn et al (2004) described episodes characterized by the appearance of several cases in the same feline colony, which suggests an infectious or toxic-metabolic cause. The close familial relationship between the most severely affected cats could be suggestive of genetic susceptibility (Cave et al, 2003).…”

“…The etiology is unclear although genetic susceptibility and neurotoxin or infectious agents have been postulated (Nunn et al, 2004). There is no sex or breed predisposition but the young animals seem to be most affected (Symonds et al, 1995).…”