[Food poisoning in cattle caused by ingestion of brewers' grains contaminated with Clostridium botulinum type B (author's transl)]

Abstract

In 1977, outbreaks of disease associated with serious losses occurred on twenty cattle farms. This disease was due to the fact that the animals had been fed brewers' grains. The clinical picture was marked by anorexia, profuse salivation, regurgitation and dehydration. The course of the disease varied with the severity of the attack. Toxicological tests were negative. Cl. botulinum type B as well as toxin type B were found to be present in the brewers' grains fairly often. As a rule, Cl. botulinum was also detected in the rumen contents and faeces. The treatment of the animals is described; this resulted in recovery in a number of cases. When experimental animals were fed brewers' grains from farms on which outbreaks had occurred, this induced similar clinical pictures. The results of studies on the aetiology and pathogenesis are discussed. It is concluded that the clinical picture was an atypical form of botulism caused by Cl. botulinum type B. Possible causes of this abnormal clinical picture are discussed in greater detail.