Botulism

Botulism is a severe, flaccid neuroparalytic disease of humans and animals. The disease affects most mammals, birds, and fish. Animal botulism is a major environmental and economic concern, mainly because of the high mortality rate during outbreaks; it is considered to be a zoonosis, as it may be a source of food-borne botulism for humans. It is also considered a potential bioterrorism threat. Botulism can be caused by one of eight different neuroparalytic toxin serotypes (A to H), and it is characterized by the absence of specific gross or microscopic lesions. A presumptive diagnosis of animal botulism is based on clinical signs and ruling out other clinically similar diseases. Confirmation is based on detection of the botulinum toxin in animal samples, feed, and/or water, for which the mouse bioassay is still the gold standard. Several in vitro methods are currently being validated. Prevention of animal botulism can be achieved by proper management and vaccination. Treatment is usually not successful in the advanced stages of the disease, and euthanasia is frequently advised. For mammalian species, antitoxin can be administered to affected animals, but this has to be done when the toxin is circulating before it is bound to the neuromuscular junction or when a progressive toxico-infection form is suspected or in cohort animals.