Epidemiologia, sinais clínicos, achados laboratoriais e patológicos em oito surtos de botulismo em bovinos no Rio Grande do Norte
Câmara, Antônio Carlos LopesOliveira, Camila Marinho de MirandaVale, André Menezes doBatista, Jael SoaresSoto-Blanco, Benito
Background: Botulism is caused by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, a gram-positive bacterium, sporeforming anaerobe. In Brazil, this disease has relevant importance causing economic disturbance in livestock production. The present study aimed to report the epidemiology, clinical-pathological and laboratorial findings of eight outbreaks of botulism in cattle from Rio Grande do Norte, Northeastern Brazil.Material, Methods & Results: Clinical and epidemiological data of eight outbreaks of botulism were obtained during visits to farms from Mossoró, Serra do Mel, Governador Dix-Sept Rosado and Olho Dágua dos Borges municipalities, located at the semiarid region of Rio Grande do Norte state, Northeastern Brazil. The outbreaks occurred in July 2009, August and September 2010, and April, May and October 2013. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected from eleven and six animals, respectively, for laboratorial analysis. Ten cattle that recently died were necropsied, and fragments of several tissues (central nervous system, liver, kidney, heart and small intestine) were collected for histopathological examination. The observed clinical signs varied according to the clinical evolution of the disease, and included progressive paralysis of hindlimbs and sternal decubitus. The common clinical findings in all cattle was decreased muscular tonus of tongue...(AU)
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