Presumptive Diagnostic of an Intrauterine Transmission of Clostridium Botulinum in a Bovine Fetus

2013 
A dairy herd was affected by a disease of unknown origin. Over 12 months standard samples (feces, and blood serum) were taken and tested for Clostridium botulinum , botulinum neurotoxin and partly for botulinum toxin antibodies according to standard international procedures. Finally it was shown that the dramatic clinical situation was caused by botulism in its chronic toxico-infectious form (“visceral botulism”). The main symptoms were reduced milk yield, lameness, an increased mortality in adults and calves, and a general impairment of health of the herd. One special case is reported here. A paralyzed cow aborted after 7 months of pregnancy. The fetus was delivered dead. Diagnostic samples were taken immediately for microbiological investigations. Specimens of the intestinal tract of the cow contained the C. botulinum neurotoxin and vegetative states (combined toxin group ABE). C. botulinum was isolated from specimen of the fetus and toxin group ABE was found in the liver, suggesting an intrauterine infection.
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