Botulism

Botulism is an acute feed toxicosis of animals and humans, manifested in the form of paralysis of the pharynx, tongue, lower jaw, a sharp weakening of the skeletal muscle tone and an upset gastrointestinal tract.

The causative agent of the disease is the spore-forming anaerobic microbe Clostridium botulinum. Of the seven available types of pathogen, the most virulent are Type A and C. Spores are located subterminally and give the microbe the appearance of a tennis racket. Spores are highly stable in the external environment. Continue reading →