Botulism Exam 2 Flashcards
What is botulism the cousin of?
tetanus
What is botulism caused by?
the exotoxin of Clostridium botulinum
What is botulism characterized by?
flaccid paralysis (limpness)
What is the most potent toxin known?
the botulism toxin
Is botulism anaerobic or aerobic?
anaerobic
Is botulism gram + or -
gram +
The different types of botulism cause _______ _______ __________ but each need specific _______ _________
an identical disease; anti-toxins
Is botulism contagious?
no
How is botulism transferred to horses?
eaten from some food source
Where is type C botulism mostly found?
mainly in FL
What are the three types of botulism
A, B, and C
Where is type A botulism mostly found?
western US
Where is type B botulism mostly found?
Mid-Atlantic and KY
Where does type B botulism come from?
-rotten feedstuffs (round bales exposed to elements) —flooded areas (water receding leads to bacteria being left behind)
-spoiled grass, hay, feed
Where does type C botulism come from?
dead animal carcuses baled in hay (ex: dead rabbit in cutting hay)
There is only a vaccine for which type of botulism?
type B
What type of botulism is 80% of the cases?
type B
Forage poisoning
ingestion of pre-formed toxins in contaminated feed
Toxicoinfectious
ingestion of spores, and toxins are formed in the GI tract
Can botulism also be contracted from a wound?
yes, a contaminated wound, castration, or naval
What is the most common reason for cases of botulism in adult horses?
ingestion of decaying grass, hay, grain, and spoiled silage
Shaker foal syndrome
- toxixoinfectious most common in foals
-cannot stand to nurse (get up and then collapse)
-cannot swallow milk
Why do broodmares get vaccinated?
to prevent foal shaker syndrome in those foals
What does the toxin bind to?
irreversibly binds to cholinergic nerve terminals
How does the botulism toxin work?
-toxin prevents release of Acetylcholine in the neuromuscular junction
-muscles then cannot contract
-causes flaccid paralysis
Clinical signs of botulism
-dysphagia
-flaccid paralysis
-decrease eyelid, tongue, and tail tone (droopy eyes/tongue/lips)
-sudden death
-muscle trembling in foals
-recumbency
-diminished GI motility
-death due to respiratory failure
Dysphagia
-a symptom of botulism
-difficulty eating, the animal is hungry but can’t actually eat it
When can onset of the disease happen after exposure?
12 hrs after exposure to toxin
How is botulism definitively diagnosed?
-difficult to detect in feces, serum, or feed
-mouse inoculation or serum or feed/hay extract (wasp waist)
How is botulism treated?
-anti-toxin administration ($2500)
-nursing care
-fluids, enema, urinary catheter
-respiratory assistance to foals (mechanical ventilation)
What occurs during the recovery of botulism?
new nerve terminals are formulated which can take about 2 weeks
When are horses vaccinated for botulism?
annually (especially in KY)
How many initial doses of the vaccine are given before the annual vaccine begins?
three
How many initial doses of the vaccine are given before the annual vaccine begins?
three
How can botulism be avoided?
-avoid feeding round bales to horses
-avoid feeding silage/haylage to horses
