title: The production of Clostridium botulinum type A, B and D toxin in rotting carcasses.
abstract: Carrion is a major source of botulinal toxin for animals. A type D strain of Clostridium botulinum differed from type A and B strains in producing (1) much higher concentrations of toxin in putrefying mouse carcasses at several different temperatures over a period of 35 days, (2) toxicity that sometimes persisted in mouse carcasses for at least a year, and (3) mouse carcasses with exceptionally high oral toxicity. Fish carcasses were much less favourable than mouse carcasses for type D toxigenesis. The study, together with earlier studies on types C and E, indicated that carrion contaminated with C. botulinum type C or D is likely to be particularly dangerous for animals that may ingest it. This accords with the observation that carrion-transmitted botulism in animals is usually caused by type C or D.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park.
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000633:toxicity; D001906:Botulism / Q000209:etiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006054:Goldfish; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D051379:Mice; D011180:Postmortem Changes; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins