Thirteen cases of botulism in horses fed big bale silage

An outbreak of pharyngeal and limb paresis involving four horses and nine ponies in the south east of England is described. Nine of the animals died or were destroyed on humane grounds. The clinical features suggested a diagnosis of botulism and mouse innoculation tests confirmed the presence of typ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEquine veterinary journal Vol. 16; no. 6; pp. 515 - 518
Main Authors Ricketts, S.W, Greet, T.R.C, Glyn, P.J, Ginnett, C.D.R, McAllister, E.P, McCaig, J, Skinner, P.H, Webbon, P.M, Frape, D.L, Smith, G.R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.11.1984
Subjects
Animal Feed - adverse effects
Animals
botulism
Botulism - epidemiology
Botulism - etiology
Botulism - veterinary
Clostridium botulinum
Clostridium botulinum - isolation & purification
contamination
Disease Outbreaks - veterinary
eastern england
England
Female
Food Microbiology
Horse Diseases - epidemiology
Horse Diseases - etiology
horse feeding
Horses
Male
silage
Silage - adverse effects
toxins
England
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Summary:An outbreak of pharyngeal and limb paresis involving four horses and nine ponies in the south east of England is described. Nine of the animals died or were destroyed on humane grounds. The clinical features suggested a diagnosis of botulism and mouse innoculation tests confirmed the presence of type B toxin in the serum of one case. All animals were fed big bale silage. It is describe how, in plastic wrapped silage manufacture, conditions of fermentation may be inadequate to prevent the growth of Clostridium botulism. Examination of a sample of silage fed to the affected horses suggested that this was probably the source of the toxin.
ISSN:0425-1644
2042-3306
DOI:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1984.tb02004.x