Survival of a Foal with Type A Botulism.
Abstract: No abstract available
Publication Date: 2016-02-19 PubMed ID: 26892949PubMed Central: PMC4913603DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13840Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article discusses a case study involving the survival of a 10-day-old female pony/Paint horse foal diagnosed with Type A Botulism, potentially the first ever recorded survival from this particularly toxic strain. The foal was admitted to a vet teaching hospital presenting signs of weakness and needing assistance to move or feed. No significant abnormalities were initially found in her radiographs or blood count. Her condition was suspected to be related to toxicoinfectious botulism, despite normal botulism tests, due to her symptoms, lack of other abnormalities, and geographical prevalence of the disease.
Case History
- The 10-day-old filly started displaying signs of weakness and low head carriage four days after birth. She needed assistance in getting up and feeding.
- Her initial medical examination, including blood count tests and radiographs of cervical vertebrae, did not indicate any abnormalities.
- The dam had delivered one healthy foal previously and hadn’t been vaccinated in the past two years.
Medical Observations at the Veterinary Hospital
- Upon reaching the vet hospital, the foal was examined thoroughly again, revealing the same issues – overall weakness and inability to keep the head and neck in a normal position without assistance.
- When assisted to stand, the filly was able to move but with a short and stiff gait. She also tired quickly.
- While she could suckle well with the head supported, there were no signs of aspiration.
Additional Tests and Provisional Diagnosis
- Repeat radiographs, complete blood count, and arterial blood gas analysis were conducted, but still no significant abnormalities were found.
- To prevent potential aspiration due to the inability to nurse unassisted, an intravenous catheter was placed in her jugular vein and a nasogastric feeding tube was also set.
- Further tests for vitamin E and selenium showed low selenium concentration in blood and normal vitamin E concentration, hinting at malnutrition or absorption issues.
- Ultrasound images of the umbilical structures showed a slightly abnormal left umbilical artery but still within the normal range.
- Given the progressive weakness and lack of other significant abnormalities or findings, a diagnosis of toxicoinfectious botulism was suspected.
Consideration of Botulism Types
- In this case, botulism types A and C were considered as the most likely types affecting the foal, due to the geographical prevalence of these types on the west coast of the United States where the foal was born.
Cite This Article
APA
Prutton JS, Magdesian KG, Plummer A, Williams DC, Aleman M.
(2016).
Survival of a Foal with Type A Botulism.
J Vet Intern Med, 30(2), 675-678.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13840 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA.
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Antibodies / therapeutic use
- Botulism / therapy
- Botulism / veterinary
- Feces / microbiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Immunotherapy
- Omeprazole / therapeutic use
- Ossicular Prosthesis
- Penicillins / administration & dosage
- Penicillins / therapeutic use
- Selenium / therapeutic use
- Spores, Bacterial / isolation & purification
- Vitamin E / therapeutic use
- Vitamins / therapeutic use
References
This article includes 16 references
- Aleman M, Williams DC, Jorge NE, Magdesian KG, Brosnan RJ, Feary DJ, Hilton HG, Kozikowski TA, Higgins JK, Madigan JE, Lecouteur RA. Repetitive stimulation of the common peroneal nerve as a diagnostic aid for botulism in foals.. J Vet Intern Med 2011 Mar-Apr;25(2):365-72.
- Whitlock RH, McAdams S. Equine botulism. Clin Tech Equine Pract 2006;5:37–42.
- Johnson AL, McAdams SC, Whitlock RH. Type A botulism in horses in the United States: a review of the past ten years (1998-2008).. J Vet Diagn Invest 2010 Mar;22(2):165-73.
- Wilkins PA, Palmer JE. Botulism in foals less than 6 months of age: 30 cases (1989-2002).. J Vet Intern Med 2003 Sep-Oct;17(5):702-7.
- Comella CL, Pullman SL. Botulinum toxins in neurological disease.. Muscle Nerve 2004 May;29(5):628-44.
- Chambron J, Martel JL, Doutre PM. [Equine botulism in Senegal. 1st isolation of Clostridium botulinum type D].. Rev Elev Med Vet Pays Trop 1971;24(1):1-7.
- Johnson AL, McAdams-Gallagher SC, Aceto H. Outcome of adult horses with botulism treated at a veterinary hospital: 92 cases (1989-2013).. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jan;29(1):311-9.
- Johnson AL, Sweeney RW, McAdams SC, Whitlock RH. Quantitative real-time PCR for detection of the neurotoxin gene of Clostridium botulinum type B in equine and bovine samples.. Vet J 2012 Oct;194(1):118-20.
- Dumitru D, Amato AA. Neuromuscular junction disorders. In: Dumitru D, Amato AA, Zwarts MJ, eds. Electrodiagnostic Medicine, 2nd ed Philadelphia, PA: Hanley & Belfus Inc; 2002:1127–1228.
- . Literature review of the usefulness of repetitive nerve stimulation and single fiber EMG in the electrodiagnostic evaluation of patients with suspected myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome.. Muscle Nerve 2001 Sep;24(9):1239-47.
- Wilkins PA, Palmer JE. Mechanical ventilation in foals with botulism: 9 cases (1989-2002).. J Vet Intern Med 2003 Sep-Oct;17(5):708-12.
- Smith GR, Milligan RA. Clostridium botulinum in soil on the site of the former Metropolitan (Caledonian) Cattle Market, London.. J Hyg (Lond) 1979 Oct;83(2):237-41.
- Sprayberry KA, Carlson GP. Review of equine botulism. Proc Am Assoc Equine Pract 1997;43:379–381.
- Domingo RM, Haller JS, Gruenthal M. Infant botulism: two recent cases and literature review.. J Child Neurol 2008 Nov;23(11):1336-46.
- Santos JI, Swensen P, Glasgow LA. Potentiation of Clostridium botulinum toxin aminoglycoside antibiotics: clinical and laboratory observations.. Pediatrics 1981 Jul;68(1):50-4.
- L'Hommedieu C, Stough R, Brown L, Kettrick R, Polin R. Potentiation of neuromuscular weakness in infant botulism by aminoglycosides.. J Pediatr 1979 Dec;95(6):1065-70.
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Bischoff K, Moiseff J. Equine feed contamination and toxicology. Transl Anim Sci 2018 Feb;2(1):111-118.
- Rasetti-Escargueil C, Lemichez E, Popoff MR. Public Health Risk Associated with Botulism as Foodborne Zoonoses. Toxins (Basel) 2019 Dec 30;12(1).
- Slavik K, Whitlock R, Johnson A. Equine botulism. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):333-347.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
