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Botulism in ruminants in Brazil

Botulismo em ruminantes no Brasil

ABSTRACT:

Botulism is an intoxication caused by the ingestion of neurotoxins secreted by Clostridium botulinum. It affects all warm-blooded animals and some fishes and is characterized by progressive flaccid symmetrical paralysis. Despite the known importance of this disease in ruminants, the Brazilian literature only includes case studies and outbreak descriptions. In addition, the epidemiology of botulism in cattle has markedly changed over the past two decades. The aim of this study is to review these characteristics and to provide recent data on the occurrence of botulism in ruminants in Brazil.

Key words:
flaccid paralysis; Clostridium botulinum ; cattle; buffaloes; goats; sheep

RESUMO:

O botulismo é uma intoxicação causada pela ingestão das neurotoxinas secretadas por Clostridium botulinum . A doença afeta todos os animais de sangue quente e alguns tipos de peixes, sendo caracterizada por uma paralisia flácida simétrica progressiva. Apesar da reconhecida importância dessa doença nos ruminantes, a literatura brasileira baseia-se apenas em relatos de casos e descrições de surtos. Além disso, a epidemiologia do botulismo em bovinos apresentou marcantes alterações nas últimas duas décadas. Dessa forma, é essencial uma revisão que elucide as principais características da doença em animais no Brasil. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo revisar tais características, além de fornecer dados recentes sobre a sua ocorrência em ruminantes.

Palavras-chave:
paralisia flácida; Clostridium botulinum ; bovinos; búfalos; ovinos; caprinos

INTRODUCTION:

Botulism, derived from the Latin botulus (sausage), was described for the first time in Germany in 1820, following several cases of flaccid paralysis in humans associated with the ingestion of sausages and meat sauces (LEDERMANN, 2003LEDERMANN, W.D. The history of Clostridium botulinum. Revista Chilena de Infectología, v.20, p.39-41, 2003. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0716-10182003020200011 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.4067/S0716-10182003020200011.
http://www.scielo.cl/scielo.php?script=s...
). The disease results from intoxication or, in rare cases, from tox infection and affects humans and several other animal species (LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
).

The causative agent of botulism is Clostridium botulinum , a Gram-positive rod-shaped and strictly anaerobic bacterium that is a normal soil inhabitant and can sporulate in adverse conditions. This microorganism can grow in different types of substrates as long as there is a favorable anaerobic environment that allows its multiplication. Eight types of C. botulinum have been described (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H). Types C and D are mainly responsible for botulism in animals, with few cases being caused by the remaining types (LOBATO et al., 1988LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulismo em bovinos causado pelo Clostridium botulinum tipo B. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina, Veterinária e Zootecnia v.40, p.445-446, p.445-445, 1988.; LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
; LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
). Type H has been recently described, but no animal intoxications have yet been reported (DOVER et al., 2014DOVER, N. et al. Molecular characterization of a novel botulinum neurotoxin type H gene. Journal of Infectious Diseases, v.209, p.192-202, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24106295 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24106...
).

Botulinum neurotoxins are the strongest known microbial toxins. They are formed by two peptide chains, one heavy chain (100kDa) and one light chain (50kDa), linked by a disulfide bond. Following their ingestion by animals, the botulinum toxins resist proteolytic degradation in the gastrointestinal tract, are absorbed by the intestinal mucosa, and act on neuromuscular junctions. Neurotoxins enter motor neurons at the neuromuscular junctions through endocytosis. Heavy chains then form pores through which the light chains enter the cytosol of the neuron. Light chains then cleave one or more proteins responsible for the release of excitatory neurotransmitters at the neuromuscular junctions (AOKI et al., 2010AOKI, K.R. et al. Mode of action of botulinum neurotoxins: current vaccination strategies and molecular immune recognition. Critical reviews in immunology, v.30, p.167-187, 2010. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20370628 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016. doi: 10.1615/CritRevImmunol.v30.i2.50
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20370...
). This release results in the inability to perform muscle contraction or the characteristic ascending flaccid symmetrical paralysis. Because botulinum toxins only act on the peripheral nervous system, affected animals have unchanged consciousness or mental status (LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
).

In Brazil, botulism cases are extremely important in ruminants, common in birds and dogs, and have also been described for other species, namely dogs, pigs, horses and wild mammals (CUBAS, 1996; COELHO et al., 2000; RAYMUNDO et al., 2012a). In spite of the known importance of botulism in ruminants, the Brazilian literature is limited to case studies and outbreak descriptions. In addition, the epidemiology of botulism in cattle has markedly changed over the past two decades. Therefore, the aim of this study was to review these characteristics and to provide recent data on botulism occurrence in ruminants in Brazil.

Botulism in cattle and other domestic ruminants

Botulism was first described in cattle in Brazil in the 1960s in the state of Piauí (TOKARNIA et al., 1970TOKARNIA, C.H. et al. Botulismo em bovinos no Piauí, Brasil. Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, v.5, p.465-472, 1970. Available from: <Available from: http://seer.sct.embrapa.br/index.php/pab/article/view/17865 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://seer.sct.embrapa.br/index.php/pab...
) and was later diagnosed in all Brazilian regions and in other species, such as sheep, goats and buffaloes (Table 1) (LANGENEGGER & DÖBEREINER, 1988LANGENEGGER, J.; DÖBEREINER J. Botulismo enzoótico em búfalos no Maranhão., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.8, p.37-42, 1988.; LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridiosis of small ruminants. Revista Portuguesa de Ciência Veterinária, v.102, p.23-34, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007/23-34.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007...
). Starting in the 1970s, botulism cases in cattle exponentially increased, especially due to historical changes in cattle farming in Brazil. Replacement of native vegetation with exotic grass species that are less demanding and able to grow in phosphorus-poor soils, such as species from the genus Brachiaria , allowed the expansion of cattle raising, especially beef cattle, into Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) areas (ARRUDA, 1994ARRUDA, Z.P. A bovinocultura de corte no Brasil e perspectivas para o setor. Campo Grande: Embrapa - CNPGC, 1994. 28p.). In addition to this expansion into poor soils, there was a constant genetic improvement of Brazilian cattle, largely promoted by the government, resulting in increasingly nutritionally demanding animals. High-yield cattle, with high nutritional demands, that ingested calcium- and phosphorus-poor plants and that were not supplied with the correct mineral supplements developed osteophagia or sarcophagia, a depraved appetite in which the animals ingest bones or carcasses present in pastures in an attempt to satisfy their mineral needs.

Table 1
Main reported botulism outbreaks in ruminants in Brazil (1960 to 2016).

These factors were very clearly present from the 1970s to the 1990s, when botulism was endemic and caused high cattle mortality. Botulism cases mainly occurred in the beginning of the rainy season, when births are concentrated, and in pregnant and newly calved cows, which have higher calcium and phosphorus demands (DUTRA & DOBEREINER, 1995DUTRA, I.S.; DÖBEREINER, J. Fatos e teorias sobre a doença da vaca caída: botulismo. Hora Veterinária, v.84, p.7-10, 1995.). It has been estimated that between the 1970s and 1990s, over two million cattle died as a result of "downer cow disease" (CARCIOFI et al., 2003CARCIOFI, A.C. et al. Estudo etiológico e epidemiológico da "doença da vaca caída". Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (CRMV-SP), v.6, n.1/3, p.28-41, 2003.). During this period, in addition to botulism, several other etiologies, such as malnutrition, mineral deficiencies and fluoride intoxication, were indicated as causing this disease (ORTOLANI, 1993ORTOLANI, E.L. Panorama epidemiológico da mortalidade enzoótica de bovinos adultos no Brasil e no Paraguai: retrospectiva de levantamentos., Hora Veterinária v.12, p.20-25, 1993.). However, an epidemiological study performed with the goal of determining the etiology of "downer cow disease" confirmed botulism as the most frequent cause of the clinical signs presented by the studied animals (CARCIOFI et al., 2003CARCIOFI, A.C. et al. Estudo etiológico e epidemiológico da "doença da vaca caída". Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (CRMV-SP), v.6, n.1/3, p.28-41, 2003.), indicating the need for improving the prevention and control of botulism.

Identification of botulism, implementation of its diagnosis, and diffusion of prophylactic control measures were essential for the gradual decrease in the occurrence of osteophagia-associated botulism in cows. Currently, this type of botulism still occurs and have been reported in some farms in northeast of Brazil, due the lack of mineral supplementation and/or absence immunization against botulinic toxin. In the Midwest, where there is the largest national contingent of extensive beef cattle production, are also reported outbreaks of botulism related to osteophagia due the difficulty to provide adequate mineral supplementation for animals created over large areas. Of the 22 outbreaks reported by LEMOS (2005LEMOS, R.A.A. Enfermidades do sistema nervosa de bovinos de corte da região centro-oeste e sudeste do Brasil. 2005. 143f. Tese (Doutorado em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva) - Curso de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho", SP.), 16 of them were caused mainly by osteophagia. Despite this, botulism outbreaks associated with contaminated feed increases proportionally matters, becoming responsible for most reports from the 1990s (LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
). Sources of Botulism outbreaks commonly reported over the past two decades include food supplements, poorly packaged silage or silage contaminated with small animal carcasses (cats, rodents and birds), and poultry litter, one of the main causes of outbreaks to date (SCHOCKEN-ITURRINO & AVILA, 1991SCHOCKEN-ITURRINO R.P.; AVILA, F.A. Botulism in confined bovine caused by the intake contamined poultry litter. Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina e Zootecnia, v.43, p.279-280, 1991. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-09351999000300005 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.1590/S0102-09351999000300005.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
; ORTOLANI et al., 1997ORTOLANI, E.L. et al. Botulism outbreak associated with poultry litter consumption in three Brazilian cattle herds. Veterinary and Human Toxicology, v.39, n.2, p.89-92, 1997. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9080634 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/90806...
; LEMOS, 2005LEMOS, R.A.A. Enfermidades do sistema nervosa de bovinos de corte da região centro-oeste e sudeste do Brasil. 2005. 143f. Tese (Doutorado em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva) - Curso de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho", SP.; DUTRA et al., 2005DUTRA I.S. et al. Botulism in beef and dairy cattle fed with poultry litter., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.25, p.115-119, 2005. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-736X2005000200009&script=sci_arttext >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2005000200009.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S010...
; LOBATO et al., 2008; COSTA et al., 2008COSTA, G.M. et al. Botulism in dairy cattle in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Ciência Rural, v.38, p.2068-2071, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0103-84782008000700045 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000700045.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
; CÂMARA et al., 2011CÂMARA, A.C.L. et al. Outbreaks of botulism in dairy cattle from Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil., Veterinária e Zootecnia p.18, p.705-708, 2011. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/440/334 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
; RIBAS et al., 2013RIBAS, N.L.K.S. et al. Diseases of the nervous system of cattle in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: 1082 cases., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.33, n.10, p.1183-1194, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v33n10/03.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v33n10/03.p...
; CÂMARA et al., 2014CÂMARA, A.C.L. et al. Epidemiology, Clinical Signs, Laboratorial and Pathological Findings in Eight Outbreaks of Botulism in Cattle in Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.42, p.1-8, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201200.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
; RAYMUNDO et al., 2014RAYMUNDO, D.L. et al. Clostridial diseases diagnosed in herbivores in Southern Brazil., Acta Scientiae Veterinariae v.42, pub.1204, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201204.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
). Use of poultry litter in ruminant feeding was prohibited in 2004 due to the risk of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) (BRASIL, 2009BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Manual de Legislação: Programas Nacionais de Saúde Animal do Brasil. Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuária. Departamento de Saúde Animal. Brasília: MAPA/SDA/ DSA, 2009. 440p.), but it is still commonly used in cattle farming in Brazil, especially in dairy farms in the southeast and south of the country.

Other common toxin sources for cattle, which have also been reported for buffaloes, are stagnant water sources, such as swales, rain water harvesting ditches and small lagoons (SILVA et al., 1998SILVA, T.M.D. et al. Occurrence and distribution of Clostridium botulinum type C and D spores in buffalo breeding areas of the Baixada Maranhense, Maranhão, Brazil., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.18, n.3-4, 1998. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-736X1998000300007&script=sci_arttext >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X1998000300007.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S010...
; SOUZA et al., 2006SOUZA, A.M. et al. Spores and toxins of Clostridium botulinum in raining ponds used as water supply for cattle in pastures in the Araguaia Valley, State of Goiás, Brazil., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.26, p.133-138, 2006. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2006000300001 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2006...
). Presence of slime and other sources of organic matter in these sites may favor the multiplication of C. botulinum and can result in isolated cases to high-mortality outbreaks of botulism. Such was the case of a large outbreak that occurred in Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) in 1989, affecting over 2500 cattle (COELHO et al., 1996COELHO, H.E. et al. Botulism in buffalos. Veterinária Notícias, v.2, n.1, p.67-70, 1996.; DUTRA, 1990DUTRA, I.S. et al. Botulismo de origem hídrica em bovinos no Brasil. In: WORLD BUIATRICS CONGRESS, 16., 1990, Salvador, Ba. Proceedings... Salvador: WBC, 1990. p.547- 550.; DUTRA et al., 2001DUTRA I.S. et al. Botulism outbreaks in cattle in Brazil associated with contaminated water., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.21, p.43-48, 2001. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2001000200002 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2001000200002.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0100-736X2001...
; ALBERNAZ et al., 2011ALBERNAZ, T.T. et al. Botulism from hydric origin in buffaloes in the State of Para, Brazil. Veterinária e Zootecnia, v.18, n.4, supl.3, p.779-782, 2011. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/440/334 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
). Again in MS, LEMOS (2005LEMOS, R.A.A. Enfermidades do sistema nervosa de bovinos de corte da região centro-oeste e sudeste do Brasil. 2005. 143f. Tese (Doutorado em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva) - Curso de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho", SP.), reported 22 outbreaks of botulism in cattle from 2000 to 2003, five (23.8%) due to ingestion of contaminated water.

Botulism morbidity rate in cattle farms varies from 0.1 to 100% and is closely related to the herd's vaccination coverage; however, the case fatality rate for botulism is always close to 100%, resulting in significant losses (CARCIOFI et al., 2003CARCIOFI, A.C. et al. Estudo etiológico e epidemiológico da "doença da vaca caída". Revista de Educação Continuada em Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (CRMV-SP), v.6, n.1/3, p.28-41, 2003.; DUTRA et al., 2005DUTRA I.S. et al. Botulism in beef and dairy cattle fed with poultry litter., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.25, p.115-119, 2005. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0100-736X2005000200009&script=sci_arttext >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2005000200009.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S010...
; CÂMARA et al., 2014CÂMARA, A.C.L. et al. Epidemiology, Clinical Signs, Laboratorial and Pathological Findings in Eight Outbreaks of Botulism in Cattle in Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.42, p.1-8, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201200.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
). In a differential diagnosis study of 1431 cattle presenting neurological signs between 2000 and 2003 in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, rabies and botulism were the two main diagnosed diseases, corresponding to 13% and 10% of the animals, respectively (LEMOS, 2005LEMOS, R.A.A. Enfermidades do sistema nervosa de bovinos de corte da região centro-oeste e sudeste do Brasil. 2005. 143f. Tese (Doutorado em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva) - Curso de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Estadual Paulista "Julio Mesquita Filho", SP.). In a retrospective study of 588 cattle presenting neurological signs between 2008 and 2012, which was also conducted in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, the most frequently confirmed disease was botulism (16.67%), ahead of rabies (15.92%), polioencephalomalacia (8.05%), and herpes meningoencephalitis (4.31%) (RIBAS et al., 2013RIBAS, N.L.K.S. et al. Diseases of the nervous system of cattle in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil: 1082 cases., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.33, n.10, p.1183-1194, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v33n10/03.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v33n10/03.p...
). These data suggested that although botulism has been known for over four decades and its incidence has decreased markedly compared to the 1970s-1990s, it still presents high occurrence rates, causing high losses to rural producers (RAYMUNDO et al., 2014RAYMUNDO, D.L. et al. Clostridial diseases diagnosed in herbivores in Southern Brazil., Acta Scientiae Veterinariae v.42, pub.1204, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201204.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
).

Cattle are mainly susceptible to neurotoxins C and D and are rarely affected by types A and B (KRÜGER et al., 2012KRÜGER, M. et al. Visceral botulism at dairy farms in Schleswig Holstein, Germany: prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in feces of cows, in animal feeds, in feces of the farmers, and in house dust., Anaerobe v.18, p.221-223, 2012. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22200452 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.12.013
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22200...
). The incubation period in cattle varies from a few hours to over a week. Because the course of the intoxication is dose-dependent, the herd's more voracious, dominant animals with larger appetites are often the first to present clinical signs during outbreaks, with more acute disease presentations (LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
; LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
).

Initially, the affected animals present locomotion difficulty, a lack of coordination of the pelvic limbs, and stiff movement of the thoracic limbs as an attempt to compensate for the lack of coordination of the pelvic limbs. The flaccid paralysis progresses cranially, and the mental status of the animals remains unchanged. Marked decreases in sensory reflexes in the lumbosacral and perianal regions, tongue hypotonia and flaccid tail develop. As the disease progresses, the animals present respiratory difficulty and enter into a preagonal state. Death occurs through cardiopulmonary arrest due to paralysis of the respiratory muscles. Although botulism is usually an acute disease in animals, recently some cases of chronic botulism has been described in European countries (RODLOFF & KRÜGER, 2012RODLOFF, A.C.; KRÜGER M. Chronic Clostridium botulinum infections in farmers., Anaerobe v.18, p.226-228, 2012. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22197952t >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.12.011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22197...
). This rare form of the disease, also known as "visceral botulism", is still poorly understood and might be linked to the intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and trace element deficiency (RODLOFF & KRÜGER, 2012RODLOFF, A.C.; KRÜGER M. Chronic Clostridium botulinum infections in farmers., Anaerobe v.18, p.226-228, 2012. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22197952t >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.12.011.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22197...
; KRÜGER et al., 2012KRÜGER, M. et al. Visceral botulism at dairy farms in Schleswig Holstein, Germany: prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in feces of cows, in animal feeds, in feces of the farmers, and in house dust., Anaerobe v.18, p.221-223, 2012. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22200452 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2011.12.013
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22200...
; KRÜGER et al., 2014KRÜGER, M. et al. Chronic botulism in a Saxony dairy farm: sources, predisposing factors, development of the disease and treatment possibilities. Anaerobe, v.28, p.220-225, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997242 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2014.06.010.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997...
).

Similarly to other species, necropsy commonly reveals no post mortem lesions. In botulism cases associated with osteophagia, bone remains are commonly found in the animals' stomachs, which increases the suspicion of intoxication due to botulinum toxins (LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
; LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
; CÂMARA et al., 2014CÂMARA, A.C.L. et al. Epidemiology, Clinical Signs, Laboratorial and Pathological Findings in Eight Outbreaks of Botulism in Cattle in Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.42, p.1-8, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201200.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
;). Treatment of botulism in cattle is based on the administration of botulinum antitoxin serum. However, this therapy has low efficacy because ruminants are extremely sensitive to botulinum toxin, requiring the application of antiserum as quickly as possible, which is not always viable (ANNIBALLI et al., 2013ANNIBALLI, F. et al. Management of animal botulism outbreaks: from clinical suspicion to practical countermeasures to prevent or minimize outbreaks. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, v.11, S1, S191-S199, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971806 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971...
). The fact that large numbers of animals are affected in disease outbreaks also makes the treatment practically impossible on commercial farms, and euthanasia is generally applied.

Botulism has also been reported in other domestic ruminants in Brazil, namely goats, sheep and buffaloes (COELHO et al., 1996COELHO, H.E. et al. Botulism in buffalos. Veterinária Notícias, v.2, n.1, p.67-70, 1996.; LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
; RIET-CORREA et al., 2012RIET-CORREA, F. et al. Botulism by Clostridium botulinum type C in goats associated with osteophagia. Small Ruminant Research, v.106, p.201-205, 2012. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.03.010 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.03.010.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.smallrumres....
), with very similar predisposing factors as the ones described for cattle (ALBERNAZ et al., 2011ALBERNAZ, T.T. et al. Botulism from hydric origin in buffaloes in the State of Para, Brazil. Veterinária e Zootecnia, v.18, n.4, supl.3, p.779-782, 2011. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/440/334 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
; NOVAIS, 2013NOVAIS, E.P.F. Doenças com sinais neurológicos em ovinos e caprinos no Distrito Federal e entorno. 2013. 115f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Saúde Animal) - Curso de Pós-graduação em Saúde Animal, Universidade de Brasília, DF.). In small ruminants, botulism is more common in sheep than in goats. The analysis of neurological signs presented by sheep and goats sent to the Large Animal Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade de Brasília between 2001 and 2012 revealed a botulism frequency of 16.2% in sheep, whereas no goats were diagnosed with the disease (NOVAIS, 2013CURCI, V.C.L.M. et al. The effect of composting cattle carcasses on botulinum spores and toxin content., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.27, n.4, p.157-161, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-736X2007000400005 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2007000400005.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
). Although less important than in cattle,, osteophagia associated with calcium and phosphorus deficiency can also result in botulism in other ruminants (RIET-CORREA et al., 2012). High-mortality outbreaks in small ruminants have also been reported in Brazil (Table 1), with an outbreak reported in Paraíba associated with the ingestion of poultry litter standing out, as it resulted in the death of 378 goats and sheep (LOBATO et al., 2008LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Botulism in ruminants being fed with poultry litter. Ciência Rural. v.38, p.1176-1178, 2008. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0103-84782008000400046.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-84782008...
).

Diagnosis

The presumptive diagnosis of botulism in animals is based on the combination of individual and herd histories and characteristic clinical signs. Typically, no significant changes are observed post mortem, but the presence of bones in the rumen and reticulum may indicate botulism due to osteophagia. Laboratory confirmation is obtained through the detection and identification of botulinum toxin(s) in clinical specimens using serum neutralization tests in mice (LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
).

Two factors that are essential to increase the predictive value of botulism diagnosis are the sampling of animals with higher probability of toxin detection and the adequate collection of clinical specimens. Regardless of the species, in outbreaks, it is essential to collect material from animals presenting shorter incubation times and acute disease courses, indicating higher ingestion of botulinum toxin. Animals that died more than 3 hours before collection should be avoided because toxin degradation may begin to occur from that time on, which would undermine the diagnosis (LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridiosis of small ruminants. Revista Portuguesa de Ciência Veterinária, v.102, p.23-34, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007/23-34.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007...
; LOBATO et al., 2013CURCI, V.C.L.M. et al. The effect of composting cattle carcasses on botulinum spores and toxin content., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.27, n.4, p.157-161, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-736X2007000400005 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2007000400005.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
).

In cattle, due to their very high sensitivity, detection of botulinum toxin in blood serum is difficult and occurs almost exclusively in recently intoxicated animals with extremely acute disease presentation. Therefore, the main goal in cattle is to identify the toxin before it reaches the bloodstream, which makes the liver and the stomach and intestinal contents the preferred specimens for toxin detection (ANNIBALLI et al., 2013ANNIBALLI, F. et al. Management of animal botulism outbreaks: from clinical suspicion to practical countermeasures to prevent or minimize outbreaks. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, v.11, S1, S191-S199, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971806 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971...
; LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
). Clinical samples for detection of botulinum toxin should be sent to the laboratory under refrigeration. At least 2mL of blood serum, 100g of liver fragments and 50g of duodenal and abomasum contents should be sent. It is important to note that the stomach and intestinal contents should be drained and sent in vials. Sending the contents inside the organs may increase the chance of false-negative results, as proteases may degrade the toxins. Food and water suspected of being intoxication sources can also be sent for toxin detection under refrigeration (LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridiosis of small ruminants. Revista Portuguesa de Ciência Veterinária, v.102, p.23-34, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007/23-34.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007...
). Currently, the Laboratório Nacional Agropecuário (LANAGRO, MG - Pedro Leopoldo) performs free analyses of botulinum toxins in animal and food samples. Serum neutralization test in mice (or mice bioassay) is still the standard technique to diagnosis botulism in animals in Brazil. It is important to note that several studies have shown that some in vivo techniques, including enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) to detect botulinum toxin in clinical specimens and real time PCR to detect C. botulinum DNA, could be viable alternatives to the currently used animal model to diagnose botulism in animals (KRÜGER et al., 2014KRÜGER, M. et al. Chronic botulism in a Saxony dairy farm: sources, predisposing factors, development of the disease and treatment possibilities. Anaerobe, v.28, p.220-225, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997242 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2014.06.010.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24997...
; SOUILLARD et al., 2015SOUILLARD, R. et al. Occurrence of C. botulinum in healthy cattle and their environment following poultry botulism outbreaks in mixed farms. Veterinary Microbiology, v.22, p.142-5, 2015. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26298858 >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2015.07.032.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26298...
).

Rabies should be the main differential diagnosis. It is important to note that the mental status remains unchanged in botulism, whereas rabies causes some behavioral abnormalities (LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridiosis of small ruminants. Revista Portuguesa de Ciência Veterinária, v.102, p.23-34, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007/23-34.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007...
; PEDROSO et al., 2009PEDROSO, P.M.O. et al. Clinical and pathological aspects in cattle affected by rabies with special reference to the rabies antigen mapping by immunohistochemistry., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.29, p.899-904, 2009. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v29n11/a06v2911.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2009001100006.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v29n11/a06v...
). Other differential diagnoses in cattle include bovine herpesvirus 5 encephalitis; listeriosis; toxicosis caused by ticks; polioencephalomalacia; hypocalcemia; hypomagnesemia; intoxications by lead, sodium chloride, organophosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons; ingestion of mycotoxins produced by Aspergillus clavatus (known as the barley fungus); and ingestion of plants from genus Senna spp. (LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
; ANNIBALLI et al., 2013ANNIBALLI, F. et al. Management of animal botulism outbreaks: from clinical suspicion to practical countermeasures to prevent or minimize outbreaks. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, v.11, S1, S191-S199, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971806 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971...
; CARVALHO et al., 2014CARVALHO, A.Q. et al. Spontaneous poisoning by Senna obtusifolia in cattle of the southern Pantanal. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira, v.34, p.147-152, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v34n2/v34n2a09.pdf >. Accessed: Feb. 12, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2014000200009.
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/pvb/v34n2/v34n2...
).

Prevention and control

Vaccination with C. botulinum toxoids is the main prevention measure of botulism in cattle (LOBATO et al., 2013LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridial infection in farm animals., Veterinária e Zootecnia v.20, p.29-48, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/rvz/article/view/651 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmvz.unesp.br/rvz/index.php/r...
; CÂMARA et al., 2014CÂMARA, A.C.L. et al. Epidemiology, Clinical Signs, Laboratorial and Pathological Findings in Eight Outbreaks of Botulism in Cattle in Rio Grande do Norte State, Northeastern Brazil. Acta Scientiae Veterinariae, v.42, p.1-8, 2014. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%201200.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.ufrgs.br/actavet/42/PUB%20120...
). Commercialization of C. botulinum type C and D toxoids began in the 1980s, but studies performed in the beginning of the 1990s revealed the low quality of these immunogens that were commercialized in Brazil (LOBATO et al., 1998LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Potencia de toxoides botulinicos bivalentes C e D produzidos e comercializados no Brasil. Revista Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, v.20, n.1, p.35-38, 1998.). As a result, since 1997, the potency of commercial vaccines containing C. botulinum types C and D toxoids is systematically evaluated by the Ministério da Agricultura Pecuária and Abastecimento (BRASIL, 1997BRASIL. Ministério da Agricultura. Portaria n. 49, 12 de maio de 1997. Diário Oficial da União, 16 de maio de 1997. Seção 1, p.10168-10169.), which guarantees their quality.

In addition to vaccination, other basic measures for the prevention of botulism in cattle are the supply of balanced minerals, safe water and high-quality feed; not using poultry litter in animal production; and care during silage and feed preparation and stocking to avoid accidental incorporation of animal carcasses, especially of birds and rodents (LOBATO et al., 2007LOBATO, F.C.F. et al. Clostridiosis of small ruminants. Revista Portuguesa de Ciência Veterinária, v.102, p.23-34, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007/23-34.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015.
http://www.fmv.utl.pt/spcv/PDF/pdf6_2007...
; ANNIBALLI et al., 2013ANNIBALLI, F. et al. Management of animal botulism outbreaks: from clinical suspicion to practical countermeasures to prevent or minimize outbreaks. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism, v.11, S1, S191-S199, 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971806 >. Accessed: Mar. 06, 2016.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23971...
; LOBATO et al., 2013). It is also important to decrease environmental contamination by C. botulinum spores by removing carcasses from pastures and disposing of them correctly (SOUZA & LANGENEGGER 1987SOUZA, A.M.; LANGENEGGER, J. Esporos de Clostridium botulinum em torno de cadáveres decompostos de bovinos em pastagens no sul de Goiás., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.7, p.17-22, 1987. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-736X2006000300001 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2015. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2006000300001.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
). Open-air decomposition of animal carcasses suspect of botulism results in approximately 46.5% of the C. botulinum spores and/or toxins in their ribs. When these carcasses are dismembered followed by pre-composting in static piles without aeration for 50 days at 40.5°C to 52.4°C, there is decomposition of approximately 60% of the carcasses without the presence of spores or botulinum toxin in the ribs (RIBAS et al. 1994RIBAS, A.I. et al. Detecção de esporos de Clostridium botulinum em costelas de cadáveres decompostos de bovinos. In: CONGRERSSO BRASILEIRO DE MEDICINA VETERINÁRIA, 23., 1994, Olinda, Pe. Anais do Congrersso Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária. Olinda: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Veterinária, 1994. p.142.; CURCI et al., 2007CURCI, V.C.L.M. et al. The effect of composting cattle carcasses on botulinum spores and toxin content., Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira v.27, n.4, p.157-161, 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-736X2007000400005 >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2016. doi: 10.1590/S0100-736X2007000400005.
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=s...
).

CONCLUSION:

Botulism remains an important disease in ruminants in Brazil. However, its epidemiology in cattle has markedly changed, with decreases in the cases associated with osteophagia resulting from mineral deficiencies and increases in outbreaks related to the supply of contaminated feed.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors are thankful for the financial support from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG (APQ-02304-13)), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES/Proex) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq).

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  • 1
    CR-2015-1486.R1

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    10 May 2016
  • Date of issue
    Aug 2016

History

  • Received
    02 Nov 2015
  • Accepted
    01 Mar 2016
  • Reviewed
    19 Apr 2016
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