Published July 27, 2023 | Version v1
Journal Open

Botulism in Cattle: A Case Report of an Outbreak in Sardinia (Italy)

Authors/Creators

  • 1. ROR icon Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna
  • 2. Laboratory of Clinical Diagnostics, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Venezie, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
  • 3. Microbiological Food Safety and Food-Borne Diseases Unit, Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, National Reference Centre for Botulism, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy

Contributors

  • 1. Conceptualization and writing (original draft preparation), D.M.; methodology, validation, and formal analysis, C.S. and L.B.; investigation, resources, and data curation, L.P., A.C., M.L. and M.M.; writing (review and editing), D.M., A.C., M.L., C.S. and L.B.; supervision, M.L.; funding acquisition and project administration, M.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Description

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum is the main causative agent of botulism in humans and animals. The ingestion of the botulinum neurotoxin, usually types C and D, has been shown to produce disease (neurological symptoms) in most botulism cases in cattle. We report an outbreak in Southern Sardinia that involved a livestock farm with 120 animals, 39 of which died. The aim of this report is to describe the course of this outbreak and the progression of symptoms up to the death of some animals; we also describe the therapeutic approach applied in this case and the analytical techniques used to diagnose the disease. Finally, we emphasize the importance of promptly proceeding with the sampling of several matrixes when a suspicion of botulism arises.

Keywords:

 

cattle botulism; neurotoxins; quick diagnosis; silage

Other

Simple Summary

Botulism is a disease that can affect humans as well as many animals. Most cases of botulism in farm animals are foodborne. This report describes the clinical course and diagnosis of a botulism outbreak in cattle that was most likely derived from foods. We emphasize the importance of the early sampling of food and biological matrixes in cases of suspected botulism to arrive at a quick diagnosis.

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Additional details

Identifiers

DOI
10.3390/ani13152435
ISSN
2076-2615

Funding

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna