Outbreak of type C botulism in birds and mammals in the Emilia Romagna region, Northern Italy

Abstract

Over a 7-day period beginning 8 August 2011, a large number of wild birds of several species were found dead or with neurologic clinical signs along the shore of Crostolo stream, in the Emilia Romagna region, Italy. Twenty-eight Mallards (Anas platy-rhynchos), two Hooded Crows (Corvus corone cornix), and three coypus (Myocastor coypus) were found moribund on the Crostolo stream bank, collected, and sent to Istituto Zooprofi-lattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'E-milia Romagna, Reggio Emilia Section. The cause of mortality was determined to be Clostridium botulinum type C toxin. The toxin was identified by a mouse bioassay for botuli-num toxins and confirmed in bird sera and blowfly larvae (Lucilia caesar) collected from the stomachs of birds. © Wildlife Disease Association 2013.