This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Lindström, M. Articles by Korkeala, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lindström, M. Articles by Korkeala, H.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2004, p. 4718-4725, Vol. 42, No. 10
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.10.4718-4725.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Type C Botulism Due to Toxic Feed Affecting 52,000 Farmed Foxes and Minks in Finland

Miia Lindström,^1* Mari Nevas,¹ Joanna Kurki,¹ Raija Sauna-aho,² Annikki Latvala-Kiesilä,³ Ilpo Pölönen,⁴ and Hannu Korkeala¹

Department of FoodEnvironmental Hygiene,¹ University of Helsinki, National Food Agency,² Plant Production Inspection Centre, Helsinki,³ Finnish Fur Breeders' Association, Vaasa, Finland⁴

Received 11 March 2004/ Returned for modification 9 May 2004/ Accepted 17 June 2004

The largest reported outbreak of type C botulism in fur production animals is described. Epidemiological investigation of 117 out of 157 (response rate, 74.5%) farms revealed that 44,130 animals died or were euthanized, while 8,033 animals with milder symptoms recovered. The overall death rate in all animals at risk was 21.7%. The death rates were significantly higher in blue and shadow foxes (24.2 and 27.8%, respectively) than in silver and blue silver foxes and minks (below 4%). All minks had been immunized against botulinum toxin type C. Deaths were associated with feed manufactured by a local processor, 83 of whose customer farms (70.9%) reported dead or sick animals. Five feedlots out of 19 delivered to the farms on the day preceding the onset of the outbreak (day 2) were associated with a death rate higher than 40%. These feedlots consisted of fresh feed processed on day 2 and feed processed 1 day earlier (day 1). In laboratory analysis, the day 2 feed contained botulinum toxin type C (>600 minimum lethal doses/g), while the day 1 feed did not contain toxin. Toxin was not detected in feed raw-material samples. Clostridium botulinum type C was detected by PCR in some feed components and in feed. However, as the feed temperature was continuously 8°C or below and the pH was continuously 5.6 or below according to the manufacturer, it seems unlikely that spore germination and toxin formation occurred during overnight storage. Hence, the events leading to toxin formation were not determined.

---

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, FIN-00040 Helsinki University, Finland. Phone: 358-9-19157107. Fax: 358-9-19157101. E-mail: miia.lindstrom{at}helsinki.fi.

---

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, October 2004, p. 4718-4725, Vol. 42, No. 10
0095-1137/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/JCM.42.10.4718-4725.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Trollet, C., Pereira, Y., Burgain, A., Litzler, E., Mezrahi, M., Seguin, J., Manich, M., Popoff, M. R., Scherman, D., Bigey, P. (2009). Generation of High-Titer Neutralizing Antibodies against Botulinum Toxins A, B, and E by DNA Electrotransfer. Infect. Immun. 77: 2221-2229 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Steinman, A., Millet, N., Frenkel, C., King, R., Shpigel, N. Y. (2007). Presence of Antibotulinum Neurotoxin Antibodies in Selected Wild Canids in Israel. J Wildl Dis 43: 548-550 [Abstract] [Full Text]