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1.
Botulism is caused by different types of Clostridium botulinum, a soil bacterium. Equine grass sickness (equine dysautonomia) is suspected of being a clinical form of this disease. On a stud where this disease occurred twice within 8 months, grass and soil samples and necropsy specimens of one horse were tested for the presence of bacterial forms and toxin of C. botulinum. Different types and type mixtures (A–E) of C. botulinum and botulinum neurotoxin were found. For the first time, it has been shown that green grass blades contain botulinum toxin. The results support the hypothesis that equine grass sickness is a clinical form of botulism, a soil‐borne disease.  相似文献   

2.
Botulism in horses in the USA is attributed to Clostridium botulinum types A, B or C. In this study, a duplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for detection of the neurotoxin genes of C. botulinum types A and B, and a singleplex qPCR for detection of the neurotoxin gene of C. botulinum type C, were optimized and validated for equine gastrointestinal, faecal and feed samples. The performance of these assays was evaluated and compared to the standard mouse bioassay (MBA) using 148 well-characterized samples, most of which were acquired from a repository of veterinary diagnostic samples from cases of botulism: 106 samples positive for C. botulinum (25 type A, 27 type B, 28 type C, 1 type D and 25 type E) and 42 negative samples. The sensitivities of the qPCR assays were 89%, 86% and 96% for C. botulinum types A, B and C, respectively. The overall sensitivity of the mouse bioassay for types A, B and C was 81%. The specificities of the qPCR assays were 99–100% and the specificity of the mouse bioassay was 95%.  相似文献   

3.
A USDA Early Response Team investigated deaths of several horses and a mule in northern Arizona at the request of local animal health officials. Thirteen animals (12 horses and 1 mule) housed at 5 facilities in a 7.4 square mile area died between August 1998 and January 1999. Clinical signs consisted of muscular weakness that rapidly progressed to lateral recumbency. Ten animals had paresis of the tongue, throat, or lips. Affected animals appeared alert and were interested in eating and drinking, even while recumbent. All 13 animals were euthanatized. Clostridium botulinum type C was isolated from feces or intestinal contents from 3 affected horses. Preformed toxin was detected in samples of soil and bird droppings collected from a nearby horse burial site. It was hypothesized that the outbreak was a result of birds, presumably ravens, feeding at the burial site and at horse facilities in the area that transferred toxin to the affected animals.  相似文献   

4.
An episode of nervous system dysfunction was observed in horses on 17 premises in 4 counties of southern California. Thirty-eight horses were affected, and 31 of those died. The common clinical signs of disease in the affected horses were: increased appetite; anxious attitude; rythmic, intermittent muscle tremors in the area of the tricep muscles; decreased palpebral tone; mydriasis; small hard fecal balls; and tendency to become sternally recumbent with the neck extended. The temporal distribution of cases on all 17 premises suggested a relationship between exposure to a common batch of alfalfa hay cubes and manifestations of similar clinical signs of disease in affected horses. Fifteen horses were submitted for necropsy. Diagnosis of botulism was established on the basis of detection of type-C1 toxin in the feed, in intestinal contents of 1 horse, and in the liver of the aforementioned horse and another horse. Toxigenic strains of Clostridium botulinum type-C were isolated from intestinal contents of 5 affected horses, one of which also contained type-C1 and type-C2 toxins. Seven of 10 horses treated with type-C antitoxin and plasma obtained from horses hyperimmunized with C botulinum type-C toxoids survived.  相似文献   

5.
Botulism is a syndrome of neuromuscular weakness caused by the toxins of Clostridium botulinum. Whilst it can affect most mammals, the horse appears to be one of the more susceptible species. Intoxication can occur via ingestion of preformed toxins in spoiled foodstuffs, ingestion of spores with colonisation in the intestinal tract or the contamination of wounds by C. botulinum. Food‐borne botulism is the most common worldwide, usually associated with spoiled roughage. Both individual cases and outbreaks have been reported, with generally a poor prognosis. Many affected horses succumb to recumbency and death/euthanasia shortly after onset of signs. Botulism should be considered a differential diagnosis for any horse displaying dysphagia or symmetrical neuromuscular weakness.  相似文献   

6.

Background

Norwegian meadows, including those for silage production, are recently found heavily invaded by the slug Arion vulgaris in exposed areas. As a consequence, large numbers of slugs might contaminate grass silage and cause a possible threat to animal feed quality and safety. It is well known that silage contaminated by mammalian or avian carcasses can lead to severe outbreaks of botulism among livestock. Invertebrates, especially fly-larvae (Diptera), are considered important in the transfer of Clostridium botulinum type C and its toxins among birds in wetlands. C. botulinum form highly resistant spores that could easily be consumed by the slugs during feeding. This study aimed to determine whether Arion vulgaris could hold viable C. botulinum and enrich them, which is essential knowledge for assessing the risk of botulism from slug-contaminated silage. Slug carcasses, slug feces and live slugs were tested by a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method after being fed ≅ 5.8 × 104 CFU C. botulinum type C spores/slug.

Results

Low amounts of C. botulinum were detected by qPCR in six of 21 slug carcasses with an even spread throughout the 17 day long experiment. Declining amounts of C. botulinum were excreted in slug feces up to day four after the inoculated feed was given. C. botulinum was only quantified the first two days in the sampling of live slugs. The viability of C. botulinum was confirmed for all three sample types (slug carcasses, slug feces and live slugs) by visible growth in enrichment media combined with obtaining a higher quantification cycle (Cq) value than from the non-enriched samples.

Conclusions

Neither dead nor live invasive Arion vulgaris slugs were shown to enrich Clostridium botulinum containing the neurotoxin type C gene in this study. Slugs excreted viable C. botulinum in their feces up to day four, but in rapidly decreasing numbers. Arion vulgaris appear not to support enrichment of C. botulinum type C.  相似文献   

7.
The gene encoding component-II of the Clostridium botulinum C2 toxin was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of C. botulinum type C strain (C)-203U28, and the nucleotide sequence was determined. The gene (bc2h) encodes a protein with 721 amino acid residues and is located at 247 bp downstream of the gene for component-I. The N-terminal 16 amino acids were identical to those obtained by analysis of the purified component-II toxin. The ORF for bc2h had only 39% homology at the amino acid level with the C. perfringens iota-Ib protein and an ATP/GTP binding site which is present in the iota-Ib protein is missing from the protein encoded by bc2h. Both genes had a homologous region that predicts a transmembrane segment.  相似文献   

8.
There are few reports about Q fever in horse populations worldwide. This study aimed to detect the C. burnetii infection by serologic and molecular confirmation using commercial ELISA kit and real-time PCR in the East of Iran a region highly endemic. A total of 177 blood samples and 115 vaginal swabs were randomly collected from horses in East of Iran. The sera samples were analyzed for anti C.burnetii Ig G antibodies by a commercial ELISA kit and nucleic acid extraxted from vaginal samples were used to determine the C. burnetii DNA by real-time PCR assay. Antibodies were detected in 5.64 % (10/177) of sera samples and C. burnetii DNA was detected in 7.82 % (9/115) of horse vaginal samples. There was no significant difference in seroprevalence in different sex, age and breed groups. Our study showed that horses could be considered as a mild potential reservoir of C. burnetii which may be effective on horse health status. However, additional studies are needed to assess whether the horse could be considered as a relevant transmission risk indicator for Q fever.  相似文献   

9.
A retrospective study was performed of 181 horses that underwent an exploratory celiotomy because of acute abdominal disease. Forty-four horses died or were euthanized during surgery. Of the 137 horses that recovered from anesthesia, 72 died of associated diseases or complications, 86 were discharged from the hospital of which 60 survived at least 7 months. Horses with disorders affecting the small intestine had a significantly lower survival rate. Causes of death early in the postoperative period included long bone fracture, shock, ileus, gastric rupture, and peritonitis. After discharge from the hospital, deaths were attributed to colic of unknown cause, malabsorption syndrome, adhesive small bowel obstruction, small and large intestinal volvulus, perforated bowel, and laminitis. Of the 60 horses that were alive at the time of survey, 93.3% had returned to their previous use. A second occurrence of the initial acute abdominal disease was not documented in any horse.  相似文献   

10.
The medical records of 17 horses that were evaluated and treated because of colic caused by pedunculated lipomas between 1983 and 1990 were reviewed. The mean age of the horses was 16.6 +/- 3.9 years (range, 10 to 26 years), which was significantly greater than that of the population of horses evaluated because of colic (control population) during the same period. There were significantly more geldings (76.5%), compared with the control population. Nasogastric reflux ranged from 1 to 16 L in 8 horses and was not obtained in 9 horses. Abdominal palpation per rectum revealed small intestinal distention in 13 horses, displaced large colon in 7 horses, and large colon impaction in 2 horses. Peritoneal fluid was abnormal in 11 of 12 horses from which it was obtained successfully. One horse was euthanatized after unsuccessful medical treatment. Surgery was performed in 16 horses. Lipomas were blindly resected in 5 horses or exteriorized and resected in 6 horses. The method used to resect the lipoma was not recorded in 5 horses. The ileum and/or jejunum was strangulated in 15 horses, the small colon was strangulated in 1 horse, and the jejunum was obstructed in 1 horse. The length of intestine resected ranged from 0.15 to 7.2 m. Fourteen horses survived surgery, of which 11 were discharged from the hospital (short-term survival rate of 78.6%). Excluding 2 horses lost to follow-up evaluation, 6 of 12 horses that survived surgery were alive 2 to 56 months following surgery (long-term survival rate of 50%), and 9 of 15 horses died or were euthanatized (fatality rate of 60%).  相似文献   

11.
Samples of bottom muds from lakes and waterways in the Auckland area were inoculated into bottles of cooked meat medium. After incubation, the media were tested for reduction of Clostridium botulinum toxin which was detected with samples from 11 of the 20 sites examined. Although toxins produced from all positive samples were neutralized by specific antisera to both type C and D toxins, it is likely that C. botulinum type Cα is the only type present in the Auckland area. All samples from other urban areas of the North Island gave negative results.  相似文献   

12.
For over 200 years, equine anatomic literature has chiefly portrayed the attachment points of the nuchal ligament lamellae (NLL) from the second to the seventh cervical vertebrae (C2–C7). However, recent studies have shown that the modern domestic horse, Equus caballus, primarily exhibits the attachments points from C2–C5. Here we present the rare finding of a complete NLL attached from C2–C7 in one Australian Stock Horse (ASH) and discuss the potential implications of these findings. Previously, this trait has only been confirmed among close descendants of Equus ferus ferus; namely the primitive Dutch Konik and Bosnian Mountain Horse. The examination of the NLL attachment points in 55 unrelated horses of mixed breeds revealed that 52 horses had attachments from C2–C5; 1 horse (Welsh Cob) had attachments from C2–C6; and only 2 horses (ASH and Dutch Konik) presented with a complete NLL attached from C2–C7. In light of earlier findings that suggest this loss of NLL attachment at C6 and C7 occurred after domestication, a possible explanation for this finding in 1 ASH is that it is a remnant trait from the founder population of Waler horses that contributed to the early development of the ASH breed. The reported rare occurrence of a complete NLL (C2–C7) in a modern domesticated equine (ASH) suggests that there may be other individuals expressing this unique trait, providing opportunity for its preservation.  相似文献   

13.
Horse trainers often report that lowering the height of a horse’s head so the poll is below the height of the withers can induce a calming effect during training. Four groups of horses were used in a 2-part study to investigate the behavioral and physiological effects of head lowering in horses. In Part 1, Group A had no experimental stimuli applied and horses in Group B were trained to lower their heads when presented with a specific stimulus by the handler. The stimulus for head lowering was the application of downward pressure on the headcollar via the lead rope until the horse lowered its head such that its lips were approximately at mid-cannon (third metacarpal) height, whereupon the pressure was released. The stimulus was applied again if the horse raised its head during the 300-second test period. In Part 2, Groups C and D were aroused until their heart rates exceeded 100 beats per minute (bpm). Group C had no further experimental stimuli applied whereas Group D lowered their heads as a response to the above stimulus for a period of 300 seconds. Repeated measures analysis showed that there was no difference between the heart rate of Groups A and B or Groups C and D but that the heart rate of Groups A and B were lower than Groups C and D during the 300-second post-arousal (P < 0.001). The horses in Groups A and B were more likely to contact the handler (P < 0.001), exhibit licking and chewing (P < 0.001), rest a hindleg (P < 0.001), and sniff the ground (P < 0.001) than those in Groups C and D. The number of stimuli required to maintain the head in a lowered position was greatest during the first 30 seconds (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, Parts 1 and 2, respectively). The current study has shown that head lowering in horses does not influence cardiac responses, even after the horses had been aroused to have their heart rates above 100 bpm. Therefore, it is not a method that will aid in calming an aroused horse in training. Contrary to popular belief, there was no association with licking-and-chewing and head lowering, nor with these behaviors and response acquisition.  相似文献   

14.
15.
Up to 60% of cases of equine colitis have no known cause. To improve understanding of the causes of acute colitis in horses, we hypothesized that Clostridium perfringens producing enterotoxin (CPE) and/or beta2 toxin (CPB2) are common and important causes of severe colitis in horses and/or that C. perfringens producing an as-yet-undescribed cytotoxin may also cause colitis in horses. Fecal samples from 55 horses (43 adults, 12 foals) with clinical evidence of colitis were evaluated by culture for the presence of Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, and Salmonella. Feces were also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for C. difficile A/B toxins and C. perfringens alpha toxin (CPA), beta2 toxin (CPB2), and enterotoxin (CPE). Five C. perfringens isolates per sample were genotyped for the following genes: cpa, cpb, cpb2 consensus, cpb2 atypical, cpe (enterotoxin), etx (epsilon toxin), itx (iota toxin), netB (necrotic enteritis toxin B), and tpeL (large C. perfringens cytotoxin). The supernatants of these isolates were also evaluated for toxicity for an equine cell line. All fecal samples were negative for Salmonella. Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile were isolated from 40% and 5.4% of samples, respectively. All fecal samples were negative for CPE. Clostridium perfringens CPA and CPB2 toxins were detected in 14.5% and 7.2% of fecal samples, respectively, all of which were culture-positive for C. perfringens. No isolates were cpe, etx, netB, or tpeL gene-positive. Atypical cpb2 and consensus cpb2 genes were identified in 15 (13.6%) and 4 (3.6%) of 110 isolates, respectively. All equine C. perfringens isolates showed far milder cytotoxicity effects than a CPB-producing positive control, although cpb2-positive isolates were slightly but significantly more cytotoxic than negative isolates. Based on this studied population, we were unable to confirm our hypothesis that CPE and CPB2-producing C. perfringens are common in horses with colitis in Ontario and we failed to identify cytotoxic activity in vitro in the type A isolates recovered.  相似文献   

16.
The cause of grass sickness, an equine dysautonomia, is unknown. The disease usually results in death. Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is a common clinical manifestation in all forms of the disease. It is generally thought that equine grass sickness (EGS) is caused by an ingested or enterically produced neurotoxin which is absorbed through the GI tract. Clostridium botulinum was first implicated as a causative agent when it was isolated from the GI tract of a horse with EGS in 1919. The aim of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that EGS results from toxicoinfection with C. botulinum type C: growth of the bacterium in the GI tract with production of toxin (BoNT/C). Ileum contents and faeces from horses with EGS were investigated for BoNT/C, and indirectly for the presence of C. botulinum type C, and compared with control samples from horses without EGS. BoNT/C was detected directly by ELISA in the ileum of 45% (13/29) of horses with EGS compared to 4% (1/28) of controls, and in the faeces of 44% (20/45) of horses with EGS compared to 4% (3/77) of controls. Levels of up to 10 Mlg toxin/g wet weight of gut contents were observed. The one control horse with detectable toxin in the ileum had been clinically diagnosed as having acute EGS, but this was not confirmed by histopathology. The organism was detected indirectly by assaying for BoNT/C by ELISA after enrichment in culture medium. C. botulinum type C was shown to be present in 48% (14/29) of ileum samples and 44% (20/45) of faecal samples from horses with EGS, compared with 7% (2/27) of ileum samples and 8% (6/72) of faecal samples from controls. These results support the hypothesis that EGS results from a C. botulinum type C toxicoinfection.  相似文献   

17.
Ten normal horses had approximately 95% of the length of the large colon resected with a side-to-side anastomosis between right ventral and right dorsal colon performed with surgical stapling equipment. Four horses died shortly after surgery of colitis (1 horse) or failure of the TA 90 transection staple line (3 horses). Another horse died 4 months after surgery from disseminated streptococcal infection but had recovered well from the colon resection. Five horses survived long term (18 months) with no clinical evidence of adverse effects of the resection. Surviving horses had weight loss and soft fecal consistency for 3 to 12 weeks after surgery but returned to preoperative values within 12 months. At a second surgery 1 year later (5 horses) or at necropsy 4 months later (1 horse), fibrous omental adhesions were present over the transection staple line in four horses and over the anastomotic staple line in two horses. Omental adhesions to the everted staple line were moderate but not associated with any clinical sequellae. An incisional hernia was present in one horse. The anastomotic stomata measured between 8 and 9 cm, which was 60% of the size of the original surgically created stomata. Failure of the transection staple line occurred in the first three of five horses in which the procedure was attempted due to improper configuration of the staples or crushing of the tissue between the staples. Experience corrected this complication.  相似文献   

18.
ObjectiveTo report anesthetic-related complications and determine risks associated with anesthesia in draft horses.Study designRetrospective study.AnimalsA total of 401 anesthetic records for draft horse breeds that underwent general anesthesia from January 2010 through December 2020 were reviewed; horses euthanized during general anesthesia were excluded.MethodsDemographics, perioperative drugs used, procedure type and duration, time to extubation, number of attempts to stand, use of sling in recovery and perioperative morbidity and mortality were investigated. Morbidity and mortality statistical evaluation included univariable logistic regression analysis and ordinal regression analysis.ResultsAmerican Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status I–II, ASA III–V and total mortality rate for all cases was 0.69% (2/288), 6.19% (7/113) and 2.24% (9/401), respectively, with Belgian horses being overrepresented (6/9). Cardiac arrest occurred in six out of nine horses that died without euthanasia, and five out of six of these horses underwent colic surgery. Factors associated with increased mortality risk included ASA status of III–V, increased body weight, emergency status and horses presenting for colic. Hypotension, hypercarbia and hypoxemia occurred in 56% (224/401), 46% (186/401) and 14% (58/401) of horses, respectively. During recovery from anesthesia, lighter horses and horses undergoing shorter anesthetic procedures were more likely to be successful on the first or second attempt to stand and were less likely to require a sling in recovery.Conclusions and clinical relevanceDraft horses undergoing general anesthesia had a higher mortality rate than previously reported for all types and breeds of horses.  相似文献   

19.
A four day old Appaloosa foal in Alberta died from hemorrhagic enterotoxemia. Beta-toxin of Clostridium perfringens was demonstrated in the intestinal contents of the foal and a pure culture of C. perfringens type C was grown from the small intestine. Histological examination showed hemorrhage and extensive necrosis of the small intestinal mucosa. Areas of necrotic tissue were surrounded by massive numbers of clostridia-like rods. There was also a moderate degree of thyroid hyperplasia. This is believed to be the first published report of hemorrhagic enterotoxemia associated with C. perfringens type C in the horse in Canada.  相似文献   

20.
In the United States, horses are used for a variety of purposes including recreation, exhibition, and racing. As farm, performance, and companion animals, horses are a unique species from a zoonotic disease risk perspective, and the risks of subclinical infections spreading among horses can pose challenges. Using a nanoscale real-time PCR platform, we investigated the prevalence of 14 enteric pathogens, 11 Escherichia coli genes, and 9 respiratory pathogens in fecal samples from 97 apparently healthy horses at a multi-day horse event. In addition, sugar flotation test was performed for fecal parasites. E. coli f17 was commonly detected, prevalent in 59% of horses, followed closely by Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (55%). Additional pathogens recognized included betacoronavirus, Campylobacter jejuni, Cryptosporidium sp., E. coli O157, equine adenovirus 1, equine rhinitis B virus, and others. The use of PCR data may overestimate the true prevalence of these pathogens but provides a sensitive overview of common pathogens present in healthy horses. Our results prompt the continued need for practical biosecurity measures at horse shows, both to protect individuals interacting with these horses and to minimize transmission among horses.  相似文献   

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