Skip to main content
PMC home page
Epidemiology and Infection logoLink to Epidemiology and Infection
. 1994 Oct;113(2):335–343. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800051761

The production of Clostridium botulinum type A, B and D toxin in rotting carcasses.

N E Ortiz 1, G R Smith 1
PMCID: PMC2271544  PMID: 7925670

Abstract

Carrion is a major source of botulinal toxin for animals. A type D strain of Clostridium botulinum differed from type A and B strains in producing (1) much higher concentrations of toxin in putrefying mouse carcasses at several different temperatures over a period of 35 days, (2) toxicity that sometimes persisted in mouse carcasses for at least a year, and (3) mouse carcasses with exceptionally high oral toxicity. Fish carcasses were much less favourable than mouse carcasses for type D toxigenesis. The study, together with earlier studies on types C and E, indicated that carrion contaminated with C. botulinum type C or D is likely to be particularly dangerous for animals that may ingest it. This accords with the observation that carrion-transmitted botulism in animals is usually caused by type C or D.

Full text

PDF
337

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Gross W. B., Smith L. D. Experimental botulism in gallinaceous birds. Avian Dis. 1971 Oct-Dec;15(4):716–722. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. McLoughlin M. F., Mcllroy S. G., Neill S. D. A major outbreak of botulism in cattle being fed ensiled poultry litter. Vet Rec. 1988 Jun 11;122(24):579–581. doi: 10.1136/vr.122.24.579. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Notermans S., Dufrenne J., Kozaki S. Experimental botulism in Pekin ducks. Avian Dis. 1980 Jul-Sep;24(3):658–664. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Schocken-Iturrino R. P., Avila F. A., Berchielli S. C., Nader Filho A. First case of type A botulism in zebu (Bos indicus). Vet Rec. 1990 Mar 3;126(9):217–218. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Smart J. L., Jones T. O., Clegg F. G., McMurtry M. J. Poultry waste associated type C botulism in cattle. Epidemiol Infect. 1987 Feb;98(1):73–79. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800061720. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Smith G. R., Turner A. Factors affecting the toxicity of rotting carcasses containing Clostridium botulinum type C. Epidemiol Infect. 1987 Jun;98(3):345–351. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800062105. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Smith G. R., Turner A. The production of Clostridium botulinum toxin in mammalian, avian and piscine carrion. Epidemiol Infect. 1989 Jun;102(3):467–471. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800030181. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Smith G. R., Turner A., Till D. Factors affecting the toxicity of rotting carcasses containing Clostridium botulinum type E. Epidemiol Infect. 1988 Jun;100(3):399–405. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800067157. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Epidemiology and Infection are provided here courtesy of Cambridge University Press

RESOURCES