Feedtrough dirt as a source of Clostridium botulinum type C intoxication in a group of farm horses.
Abstract: Four horses from the same farm developed clinical signs of botulism during the winter months; three of these horses died. One horse survived an initial attack and recovered over a three-week period, but died during a second attack. The horse that survived took six weeks to recover. Clinical and postmortem examination ruled out other causes of disease. Confirmation of the diagnosis was made by isolation of Clostridium botulinum type C toxin from the dirt in the bottom of an oak feedtrough used by all horses, and from the colonic contents of one of the horses that died. To our knowledge, this is the second case of C. botulinum type C intoxication reported in horses in North America. In both cases, soil and sand near aquatic environments were identified as the source of toxin.
Publication Date: 1990-01-01 PubMed ID: 17423488PubMed Central: PMC1480619
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study discusses a case of four horses from the same farm getting infected by Clostridium botulinum type C, an instance of botulism, where three of them died. The source of the infection was traced back to the dirt in the bottom of an oak feedtrough used by the horses.
Introduction and Case Details
- The research notes the development of clinical signs of botulism in four horses from the same farm during the winter months. This neurological disease led to the death of three horses, while one managed to survive an initial attack and recover over a three-week period.
- However, the surviving horse succumbed to a second attack of the disease. It’s mentioned that the horse that survived the first attack took a total of six weeks to fully recover.
Disease Confirmation and Source Identification
- Clinical and post-mortem examinations of the horses were conducted to rule out other potential causes for the health conditions observed. These examinations confirmed the diagnosis of botulism, specifically Clostridium botulinum type C intoxication.
- The researchers were then able to trace the source of this intoxication to the dirt present in the bottom of an oak feedtrough used by all the horses on the farm. Traces of the C. botulinum type C toxin were also found from the colonic contents of one of the horses that died.
Context and Significance
- The research underscores that this case is just the second report of C. botulinum type C intoxication in horses in North America. It highlights that in both instances, contaminated soil and sand near aquatic environments were identified as the source of the toxin.
- These findings establish the significance of monitoring the conditions of the feeding areas of animals as well as the need for further research on preventing such incidents of intoxication in farm animals.
Cite This Article
APA
Heath SE, Bell RJ, Chirino-Trejo M, Schuh JC, Harland RJ.
(1990).
Feedtrough dirt as a source of Clostridium botulinum type C intoxication in a group of farm horses.
Can Vet J, 31(1), 13-19.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
References
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