title: Livers provide a reliable matrix for real-time PCR confirmation of avian botulism.
abstract: Diagnosis of avian botulism is based on clinical symptoms, which are indicative but not specific. Laboratory investigations are therefore required to confirm clinical suspicions and establish a definitive diagnosis. Real-time PCR methods have recently been developed for the detection of Clostridium botulinum group III producing type C, D, C/D or D/C toxins. However, no study has been conducted to determine which types of matrices should be analyzed for laboratory confirmation using this approach. This study reports on the comparison of different matrices (pooled intestinal contents, livers, spleens and cloacal swabs) for PCR detection of C. botulinum. Between 2013 and 2015, 63 avian botulism suspicions were tested and 37 were confirmed as botulism. Analysis of livers using real-time PCR after enrichment led to the confirmation of 97% of the botulism outbreaks. Using the same method, spleens led to the confirmation of 90% of botulism outbreaks, cloacal swabs of 93% and pooled intestinal contents of 46%. Liver appears to be the most reliable type of matrix for laboratory confirmation using real-time PCR analysis.
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France. Electronic address: caroline.lemarechal@anses.fr.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Le Maréchal
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France.
authors.forename: Valentine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ballan
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rouxel
authors.affiliation: LABOCEA, Ploufragan, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Hélène
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bayon-Auboyer
authors.affiliation: LABOCEA, Ploufragan, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Agnès
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Baudouard
authors.affiliation: LABOCEA, Ploufragan, France.
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morvan
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Houard
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France.
authors.forename: Typhaine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Poëzevara
authors.affiliation: Université Européenne de Bretagne, France; ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Epidemiology and Welfare Unit, Ploufragan, France.
authors.forename: Rozenn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Souillard
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Food Safety Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Cédric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woudstra
authors.affiliation: Université Européenne de Bretagne, France; ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Avian and Rabbit Epidemiology and Welfare Unit, Ploufragan, France.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Le Bouquin
authors.affiliation: ANSES, Food Safety Laboratory, Maisons-Alfort, France.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fach
authors.affiliation: ANSES Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Ploufragan, France; Université Européenne de Bretagne, France.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chemaly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001906:Botulism / Q000662:veterinary*; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology*; D051379:Mice; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
keywords: Avian botulism; Clostridium botulinum; Detection; Real-time PCR