Botulism detected in Saxony for the first time

Botulism in Saxony: Health authorities are puzzled

06.04.2011

On a farm in Saxon Thoßfell since 2006, many cattle have died of botulism and also the breeder is affected by the bacteria-induced poisoning. The health authorities were alarmed and the Saxon state government demanded an immediate explanation of the causes.

The infectious disease botulism caused by toxins of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum was detected for the first time last year at the farm in Saxony. Since 2006, around 600 cattle have died on the farm, but the suspicion of chronic botulism was only confirmed last year. Meanwhile, the breeder is suffering from the relatively unknown disease and suffers from muscle paralysis. Meanwhile, the cause research is running at full speed. „The Fritz Loeffler Institute for Animal Health is investigating the case“, emphasized the spokesman for the Saxon Ministry of Health, Ralph Schreiber.

Botulism in the population largely unknown disease
Botulism is a largely unknown disease in the population caused by toxin poisoning by bacteria. In humans, botulism is usually caused by the consumption of spoiled meat, but what has led to the mass occurrence of the disease in cattle in the farm in Vogtland Thoßfell is still unclear. For years, the animals have given little milk, suffered from indigestion and paralysis, and had fertility limitations. About 600 cattle had died as a result of the disease and the owner now suffer from botulism, said the lawyer of the breeders. The state farmers' association, however, was baffled and stressed that research at this point urgently needs to be intensified. Because is „the cause is unknown“, „We also do not know how we can react“, explained Andreas Jahnel from the Landesbauernverband. The Saxon state government also calls for an immediate elucidation of the causes of the disease in the present botulism cases.

Health consequences of a botulism disorder
In humans, botulism is usually pure poisoning and therefore not contagious. The effect of the bacterial toxins is based on the blockage of signal transmission between nerves and muscles. Mostly in the initial stage of the disease, the eye muscles are affected, the eyesight of the patient is limited, the eyes are constantly closing and the pupils are dilated. In the later stage of the disease, lip, tongue, palate and laryngeal muscles may also be affected, with botulism in particularly severe cases also leading to paralysis of the musculature. In addition, in such a severe disease course, the internal organs are often affected. Vomiting, diarrhea, later constipation and abdominal cramps (acute abdominal pain) are the possible consequences. At the end of the course of the disease, at worst, paralysis of the cardiac and respiratory musculature can lead to death of the patient due to suffocation or cardiac arrest. (Fp)

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Picture: Erika Hartmann