Neurology

Question 1

Botulism: Routes of infection

Answer 1

• Ingestion: preformed toxin (forage poisoning)
• Toxicoinfectious: Germination of ingested spores in the GI tract
• Wounds: contamination with spores, vegetative growth and toxin production
• Iatrogenic: after treatment with Botulinum neurotoxin

Question 2

Botulism: Pathophysiology

Answer 2

• hematogenous distribution
• binding to presynaptic cholinergic nerve - somatic end plate
• inhibition of ACh release
• flaccid paralysis of mainly striated muscle, but also smooth muscle
• once toxin = bound, new axons and end plates need formed for recovery (weeks)

Question 3

Botulism: Toxin types, cause which type and where are they found

Answer 3

A: soil, forage poisoning
B: soil, forage poisoning, toxicoinfectious
C: carcasses, forage poisoning
D: carcasse, forage poisoning
mosaic CD or DC: carcasses, forage poisoning

Question 4

Shaker foal syndrome: Pathophysiology

Answer 4

• toxicoinfectious botulism
• Toxin B
• GI colonization with bacteria - risk factors: milk diet, stress, GI ulcers

Question 5

Botulism: Diagnsosis

Answer 5

Toxin detection: Mouse bioassay, ELISA, PCR
- Serum (only when peracute)
- GI contents
- tissue/wounds

Antibody detection: low sensitivity

• Serum

Spores: Mouse bioassay

• GI content (e.g. feces of adults or foals)
• feed material

Needle electromyography: diagnosis support