title: Botulism in chickens associated with elevated iron levels.
abstract: Clostridium botulinum type C toxicosis was diagnosed by the mouse inoculation test in two outbreaks of botulism in commercial broiler and roaster chickens. One case involved 7-wk-old commercial roaster chickens, and the other involved 15-day-old commercial broiler chickens. A definitive point source for preformed C. botulinum exotoxin was not identified in either case investigation. Elevated iron concentrations in the drinking water and/or feed may have presented a significant risk factor that may have resulted in intestinal proliferation of C. botulinum and subsequent botulism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Food Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27606, USA.
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Pecelunas
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wages
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Helm
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D051379:Mice; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron