title: Outbreak of type C botulism in birds and mammals in the Emilia Romagna region, northern Italy.
abstract: Over a 7-day period beginning 8 August 2011, a large number of wild birds of several species were found dead or with neurologic clinical signs along the shore of Crostolo stream, in the Emilia Romagna region, Italy. Twenty-eight Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), two Hooded Crows (Corvus corone cornix), and three coypus (Myocastor coypus) were found moribund on the Crostolo stream bank, collected, and sent to Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna, Reggio Emilia Section. The cause of mortality was determined to be Clostridium botulinum type C toxin. The toxin was identified by a mouse bioassay for botulinum toxins and confirmed in bird sera and blowfly larvae (Lucilia caesar) collected from the stomachs of birds.
authors: 1  Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), Brescia, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Defilippo
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Luppi
authors: Giulia
authors: G
authors: Maioli
authors: Dario
authors: D
authors: Marzi
authors: Maria Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Fontana
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Paoli
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Bonilauri
authors: Michele
authors: M
authors: Dottori
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Merialdi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D001906:Botulism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008322:Mammals
chemical_list: D001905:Botulinum Toxins; C096324:botulinum toxin type C