Botulism
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[edit] Introduction
A condition of chickens, turkeys, ducks and other waterfowl occurring worldwide and caused by a toxic bacteria.The toxin is produced in dead decaying animals (usually their carcases) and plant waste, and toxin-containing material such as pond-mud, carcases, maggots is consumed by the birds.The death rate is very high . The toxin and bacterial spores are relatively hardy and may survive for some time in the environment. It has also been suggested that poultry carcases left in the litter can be a cause of botulism in cattle grazing land or consuming silage where poultry litter has been spread around.
[edit] Symptoms
Nervous signs, weakness, paralysis of legs, wings then neck, then sudden death. Affected broilers tend to settle down with eyes closed when not disturbed. A soiled beak, because it rests on the litter, is also quite typical.
[edit] Treatment
Antibiotics can be give. The single most important measure is careful pick-up and removal of all dead birds. This will reduce the risk of botulism both in the poultry and in any grazing animals on land where poultry litter is spread.
