Low prevalence of C botulinum in Spanish wetlands with a tidal regime

Environmental Factors Influencing the Prevalence of a Clostridium botulinum Type C/D Mosaic Strain in Nonpermanent Mediterranean Wetlands

“…Detection rates for C. botulinum type C in the soils/sediments analyzed in our study area (5.8%) were similar to those observed in other affected wetlands in Spain (1.7 to 18% [20,21]) and Florida (5.6% [18]). However, these values were far lower than in other wetlands in Austria (74 to 83% [48]), California (52% [23]), Canada (38% [19]), or the United Kingdom (19.4 to 51.5% [17]).…”

“…In terms of botulism outbreaks, there are several predisposing factors which have complex relationships (3). One of these factors is the abundance of C. botulinum spores in the environment, which may in turn depend on local soil, sediment, and water properties (17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). The elevated temperatures in wetlands that are reached mainly in summer can favor the growth of C. botulinum in carcasses or in decomposing organic material (25)(26)(27).…”

Botulism outbreaks in natural environments – an update

“…However, bird botulism has been reported in ponds on the shores of Neusiedler See (Zechmeister et al, 2005). In Spain, inland wetlands are more often troubled by bird botulism (Vidal et al, 2013) than coastal wetlands with a tidal regime (Contreras de Vera et al, 1991). This is probably due to both the water movement and the salt concentration.…”