Systematic Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology

HISTORY

• The name botulism is derived from sausage (botulus, latin for sausage), an article of food that used to be associated with the type of food poisoning.
• C.botulinum was first isolated by Van Ermengam (1896) from a piece of ham that caused an outbreak of botulism.
• C. botulinum denotes a group of bacteria that produce extremely potent neurotoxins.
• These toxins cause botulism , a disease characterized by flaccid paralysis in many animals and humans.
• Botulism is most common in water birds, ruminants, horses, mink and poultry.
• Botulism in animals has been called by a variety of names,
  • Horses: Spinal typhus / Shaker foal syndrome
  • Cattle: Lamsiekte, loin disease and contagious bulbar paralysis
  • Water fowl: Limber neck, alkali poisoning and western duck sickness
• Botulism is rare in domestic cats. Pigs and dogs are relatively resistant.