BOTULISM IN ANIMALS AND BIRDS

Many species of animals and birds suffer from botulism, regardless of age. Laboratory animals include white mice and guinea pigs. In cattle and goats, the disease is more often caused by clostridia types C and D, in horses – A, B, C, D, in minks – C, in birds – A, C. Carnivorous and omnivorous animals (pigs, dogs, cats), as well as rats are most resistant to all types of toxin. The toxin causes dysfunction of the brain and peripheral nervous system; nerve cells become exhausted and die from overexcitation; paralysis of the muscles of the pharynx, tongue, and lower jaw develops; there is a disconnection and relaxation of the muscles of the body, impaired movement, paralysis of the respiratory and cardiac muscles, asphyxia and death of the animal. The disease, as a rule, proceeds sporadically. The acute course lasts 1-4 days, the subacute – up to 7 days, the chronic – up to 3-4 weeks. Shaky gait, salivation, tongue prolapse, pharyngeal paralysis, and atony of the stomach and intestines are observed in animals. In sheep, with the development of paralysis, the neck bends laterally. Movement disorders prevail in goats, and paralysis of the chewing and swallowing muscles does not always occur. Pigs that rarely suffer from botulism have characteristic signs: loss of voice, blindness. Minks are characterized by relaxation of the muscles of the extremities, the outflow of mucus from the corners of the mouth, involuntary urination, death occurs from respiratory arrest. In horses and cattle, cardiac weakness and arrhythmia are noted; pressure sores due to prolonged lying down and exhaustion with a chronic course. There is often abundant salivation and tongue prolapse. Dogs are characterized by symptoms: paralysis of the limbs (quadroplegia) and eye muscles, apathy, complication of the disease with pneumonia, death occurs from asphyxia. Birds have normal or decreased body temperature. Chickens, geese, ducks) sit with their wings lowered, the head with the curved neck in the shape of the letter S is turned on the shoulder, the sensitivity of the paralyzed bird is not impaired, the pupils are dilated. Treatment begins with rinsing the oral cavity with a solution of potassium permanganate, the stomach with a solution of bicarbonate of soda; the use of laxatives, warm enemas. Then intravenous administration of anti-botulin antitoxic mono - or polyvalent serums is carried out.