Type C bovine botulism outbreak due to carcass contaminated non-acidified silage

Abstract

The first reported bovine botulism outbreak in Finland is described. Nine out of 90 cattle on a dairy farm died after being fed non-acidified silage contaminated by animal carcasses. Type C botulinum neurotoxin gene was detected in one heifer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the neurotoxin was detected by the mouse bioassay. Clostridium botulinum type C was isolated from liver samples. The isolated strain was identified with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis as group III C. botulinum. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a type C bovine botulism outbreak has been diagnosed by PCR and confirmed by subsequent isolation and AFLP identification of the disease strain. The importance of the acidification process in silage production to inhibit C. botulinum toxin production in silage and thus to prevent further botulism outbreaks is emphasized. Nevertheless, preformed toxin in the carcass is not destroyed by acid.

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

“…The symptoms observed in the affected buffaloes, including sudden death, sternal recumbency, inability to stand, and flaccid paralysis, were similar to those described in botulism outbreaks in ruminants, and the absence of macroscopic and microscopic pathological changes corroborated the results of previous studies, which reported the lack of major changes or the presence of mild changes (Senturk & Cihan 2007, Myllykoski et al 2009, Moreira et al 2014.…”

“…The difficulty to detect botulinum toxin in animal tissue samples using this technique has been reported in other studies and is justified by rapid degradation of the toxins, particularly type C toxin, by the ruminal microflora and the higher sensitivity of ruminants to BoNTs compared with mice, which are less sensitive in the bioassay (Kelch et al 2000, Myllykoski et al 2009, Bano et al 2015.…”

“…BoNTs are the most toxic biological substances known and are classified into eight serotypes (A-H) on the basis of their antigenic properties. Serotypes C and D are involved in botulism outbreaks in cattle in several countries (Dutra et al 2001, Martin 2003, Senturk & Cihan 2007, Myllykoski et al 2009, Brooks et al 2011, and the disease is considered endemic in South Africa, Australia, Brazil, and Israel (Krüger et al 2013).…”

“…The outbreaks are primarily caused by the intake of preformed BoNTs, owing to osteophagia as consequence of mineral deficiency, particularly phosphorus, and the consumption of poorly conserved food products, decaying animal carcasses, and contaminated water sources (Döbereiner et al 1992, Dutra et al 2001, Myllykoski et al 2009). Once ingested, the active toxin is absorbed in the small intestine, released into the bloodstream, and eventually reaches the peripheral cholinergic nerve endings.…”

The Workshop on Animal Botulism in Europe

“…2 It produces neurotoxin in environments that permit germination of the spores, such as canned food and silage. 3,4 The accessibility and dissemination potential of C. botulinum spores in combination with the high health impact on both humans and animals also make the bacterium a biological risk agent. 1 Botulism is usually caused by ingestion of preformed toxin, but there are also cases caused by toxicoinfection.…”