Botulism in fowls in the state of Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The diagnosis of ten outbreaks of botulism in home flocks of chickens and ducks, ranging free in rural areas of the State of Rio de Janeiro, is described. The presence of botulinic toxin was confirmed in the blood serum of sick fowls, and in cultures of crop and intestine contents and liver tissue. The toxin was identified as type C using the anti-toxin protection test in mice. This appears to be the first confirmed case of botulism in fowls in Brazil. The authors recommend the use of the anti-toxin protection test in mice using serum of sick fowls, as a routine procedure in diagnostic work.