Hostname: page-component-6dbcb7884d-4tctr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-14T06:47:27.124Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The production of Clostridium botulinum toxin in mammalian, avian and piscine carrion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

G. R. Smith  and
A. Turner
G. R. Smith
Affiliation:
Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, The Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
A. Turner
Affiliation:
Nuffield Laboratories of Comparative Medicine, Institute of Zoology, The Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London NW1 4RY, UK
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Mice, birds (chicks, quail) and fish (rudd, goldfish) killed shortly after receiving 1300–2000 spores of Clostridium botulinum per os were incubated, usually at 23 °C for 7 days. A 10% (w/v) homogenate of each rotting carcass was then prepared, sterilized by membrane filtration, and assayed for toxin.

In mouse carcasses a type C strain of C. botulinum usually produced > 2 × 105 mouse intraperitoneal LD/g; in fish carcasses it usually produced less - often much less - than 2 × 104 LD/g. Avian carcasses appeared to be intermediate between those of mice and fish in their ability to support toxigenesis. A type E strain of C. botulinum, unlike type C. produced toxin equally well in fish and mouse carrion, usually at a concentration of between 2 × 104 and 2 × 105 LD/g.

Type
Special Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 102 , Issue 3 , June 1989 , pp. 467 - 471
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

References

REFERENCES

1.Herman, CM. Significance of bird losses on Lake Michigan during November and December 1963. Great Lakes Research Division. Publication No. 11. University of Michigan 1964; 84–7.Google Scholar
2.Kaufmann, OW. Fay, LD. Clostridium botulinum type E toxin in tissues of dead loons and gulls. Michigan State University Agricultural Experimental Station Quarterly Bulletin 1964; 47: 236–42.Google Scholar
3.Monheimer, RH. The relationship of Lake Michigan waterbird mortalities to naturally occurring Clostridium botulinum type E toxin. Bull Wildl Dis Ass 1968; 4: 81–5.Google ScholarPubMed
4.Brand, CJ. Duncan, RM. Garrow, SP. Olson, D. Schumann, LE. Waterbird mortality from botulism type E in Lake Michigan: an update. Wilson Bulletin 1983; 95: 269–75.Google Scholar
5.Huss, HH. Eskildsen, U. Botulism in farmed trout caused by Clostridium botulinum type E. Nord Vet Med 1974; 26: 733–8.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Cann, DC. Taylor, LY.An outbreak of botulism in rainbow trout. Salmo gairdneri Richardson, farmed in Britain. J Fish Dis 1982; 5: 393–9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Eklund, MW. Peterson, ME. Poysky, FT. Peek, LW. Conrad, JF. Botulism in juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the United States.Aquaculture 1982; 27: 1–11.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Smith, GR. Turner, A. Factors affecting the toxicity of rotting carcasses containing Clostridium botulinum type C. Epidem Inf 1987; 98: 345–51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9.Smith, GR. Turner, A. Till, D. Factors affecting the toxicity of rotting carcasses containing Clostridium botulinum type E. Epidem Inf 1988; 100: 399–405.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10.Smart, JL. Jones, TO. Clegg, FG. McMurtry, MJ. Poultry waste associated type C botulism in cattle. Epidem Inf 1987; 98: 73–9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Robert, RS. Clostridial diseases. In: Stableforth, AW. Galloway, IA. eds. Infectious diseases of animals: diseases due to bacteria. vol 2, London: Butterworths Scientific Publications. 1959; 160–228.Google Scholar