Therapeutic management of botulism in dairy cattle

Abstract

Aim: To report the successful recovery of few dairy cattle from botulism in response to a modified therapeutic strategy. Materials and Methods:Seventy four naturally-occurring clinical cases of bovine botulism encountered during the period of 2012-2014 which were confirmed by mouse lethality test became material for this study. Affected animals were made into three groups based on the treatment modifications made during the course of study. Results and Discussion: With the modified therapeutic regimen, 17 animals recovered after 7-10 days of treatment. Clinical recovery took 2-30 days. Animals which were not given intravenous fluid and calcium recovered uneventfully. Cattle which were already treated with intravenous fluids, calcium borogluconate, and antibiotics did not recover. They were either died or slaughtered for salvage. Conclusion:In cattle with botulism, administration of Vitamin AD 3 E and activated charcoal aid the clinical recovery. Besides, strictly avoiding anti-clostridial antibiotics, fluid therapy, and calcium therapy may facilitate the clinical recovery. Upon fluid administration, the pulmonary congestion existed in the ailing cattle might have worsened the anoxia. Administration of antibiotics like penicillin, aminoglycosides, and tetracyclines further worsen the neuronal paralysis by increasing the availability of botulinum neurotoxin. Cattle in early botulism have fair chances of recovery with the modified therapy.

Clinical Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Botulism, 2021

“…Magnesium, a competitive inhibitor of presynaptic calciumdependent acetylcholine release, produces dose-dependent skeletal muscle paralysis and prolongs paralysis from NMBAs and diseases such as myasthenia gravis (110). In a cattle study, calcium infusions were reported to increase paralysis and dissemination of botulinum toxin (111). Calcium-channel blockers (e.g., verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem) can interact with aminoglycosides to produce complete neuromuscular blockade among patients who do not have botulism and theoretically should be avoided on the basis of this interaction (112,113).…”

Botulism in Cattle Associated with Osteophagy in the State of Acre, Brazil

“…Bovine females in breeding present greater nutritional need than adult males and younger animals given that the reproductive phase increases the demands of minerals, vitamins, and organic compounds that participate in the female's reproductive physiological process. In this case, the inadequate supply of minerals can stimulate the osteophagy of the cadaveric remains in the pastures, making the bovines susceptible to botulism, as described above [11].…”

“…Botulinum intoxication is one of the leading causes of bovine mortality, causing losses in the productive chain and damaging the sanitary indexes of the livestock activity [14]. The neuronal lesions are virtually irreversible, and the therapeutic protocols available through antitoxins are a distant option in developing countries, and their efficacy depends on the course of the disease [11].…”

Atualidades Na Saúde E Bem-Estar Animal, Volume 3

“…Inexistem opções terapêuticas para a cura do botulismo, é disponível apenas a antitoxina polivalente ou específica, porém só há eficácia no início da doença, quando a toxina está circulante, antes de se fixar na sinapse neuromuscular (ANNIBALLI et al, 2013;PANDIAN et al, 2015). Não é indicado a administração de antibióticos clostridiocidas, visto que pode causar a quebra das formas vegetativas, desse modo, aumentando o número de toxinas no intestino animal.…”

“…Não é indicado a administração de antibióticos clostridiocidas, visto que pode causar a quebra das formas vegetativas, desse modo, aumentando o número de toxinas no intestino animal. (PANDIAN et al, 2015).…”