Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Outbreak of equine botulism type C associated with consumption of baleage in Brazil.
- Journal:
- Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc
- Year:
- 2026
- Authors:
- Souza, Larissa L et al.
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science · Brazil
- Species:
- horse
Abstract
An outbreak of botulism occurred in March 2024 among horses at a Quarter Horse stud farm in Central-West Brazil. After ingesting baleage, 22 of 26 (85%) horses housed in stables and fed baleage became ill. The affected horses had dysphagia, muscular weakness, fasciculations, and progressive recumbency; 13 of 22 (59%) died within a few days. The diagnosis of type C botulism was established based on clinical and epidemiologic findings and confirmed by mouse bioassays, which indicated botulinum toxin type C in liver samples and intestinal contents. Furthermore, PCR testing identified toxigenicin the baleage consumed by the horses.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41504204/