Botulism associated with feeding alfalfa hay to horses.
Botulism was believed to be the cause of progressive symmetric myasthenia in 8 horses on a farm in North Carolina. One horse was found dead, 6 were euthanatized after becoming recumbent, and 1 affected horse recovered. Cecal and colonic contents of 2 horses were determined to contain Clostridium botulinum spores. Alfalfa hay that was fed to the horses contained spores and toxin.
Department of Food Animal and Equine Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606.
J J
JJ
Wichtel
R H
RH
Whitlock
D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis; D001906:Botulism / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002432:Cecum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D000455:Medicago sativa / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification
D001905:Botulinum Toxins