An outbreak of type C botulism in waterbirds: Incheon, Korea.
Five outbreaks of botulism in waterbirds were encountered over a 5-yr period from 2004 to 2008 in Korea. In October 2008, an outbreak of avian type C botulism affected approximately 2,000 wild waterbirds in the Namdong flood control basin, Incheon, South Korea. Ecologic conditions, clinical signs exhibited by moribund birds, and lack of gross pathology and microbial evidence of infectious disease, suggested botulinum intoxication. Type C botulinum toxin was demonstrated in duck sera, liquid culture of intestinal tissue, and an extract of maggots taken from the carcasses. Additionally, 34 of 40 (85.0%) sediment samples from the same area were positive for botulinum toxin by mouse bioassay using multivalent (types A-F) antiserum, indicating that toxigenic Clostridium botulinum was present in the environment. This is the most severe case of avian botulism documented in Korea.
Shin
Na-Ri
NR
Division of High-Risk Pathogen Research, Center for Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul 122-701, Korea.
Byun
Seong Hwan
SH
Chun
Jeong Hoon
JH
Shin
Jeong Hwa
JH
Kim
Yun Jeong
YJ
Kim
Jeong-Hee
JH
Rhie
Gi-Eun
GE
Chung
Hyen Mi
HM
Mo
In-Pil
IP
Yoo
Cheon-Kwon
CK
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001717:Birds; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004372:Ducks; D005260:Female; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D007814:Larva / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male
D001905:Botulinum Toxins; C096324:botulinum toxin type C