BOTULISM OUTBREAK ASSOCIATED WITH POULTRY LITTER CONSUMPTION IN 3 BRAZILIAN CATTLE HERDS

One hundred fifty-five of 201 cattle from 3 different farms showed cli nical signs and died of botulism after eating the same batch of poultr y litter contaminated with poultry and rodent carcasses. The cattle ha d access to poultry litter for only 1 d; afterwards it was removed fro m the diet. Death occurred over a period of 17 d after the poultry lit ter intake. The peak mortality was on day 4; 20 animals died within 10 The greater the intake of poultry litter, the higher the cattle morta lity. Three steers which died on the first day had peracute effects wh ile the remaining cattle showed classical signs. Twenty-five of the 46 surviving cattle had mild clinical signs, but recovered in a few days . Type C Clostridium botulinum toxin was found in extracts of the poul try litter, carcasses and cattle intestinal contents. Nutrient composi tion of the poultry litter was normal but pH was lower (6.9) than usua l (7.5 to 9.3).