Fig. 1
Polish provinces with suspected botulism cases of which samples were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory from 2019 to 2021. Darker regions denote provinces with cases
Table 1
Suspected animal botulism cases in Poland of which samples were sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory from 2019 to 2021
| Case | Province | Animal | Approximate number of affected animals | Type of feed | Year | Month | Average temp. (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pomerania | Cattle | 6 | Silage, TMR | 2019 | February | 2.8°C |
| 2 | Masovia | Mink | - | Wet feed | 2019 | June | 21.8°C |
| 3 | Podlaskie | Cattle | 45 | Pasture, silage, TMR | 2019 | June | 21.8°C |
| 4 | Lublin | Mink | 2,000 | Wet feed | 2019 | August | 20.3°C |
| 5 | Pomerania | Cattle | - | Silage | 2019 | November | 5.7°C |
| 6 | Greater Poland | Mink | 2,500 | Wet feed | 2020 | July | 18.7°C |
| 7 | Podlaskie | Cattle | 2 | Silage, TMR | 2020 | September | 15.3°C |
| 8 | Pomerania | Horse | 1 | Silage, granulated feed | 2020 | October | 10.4°C |
| 9 | Warmia-Masuria | Cattle | 8 | silage, TMR | 2021 | November | 5.1 °C |
| 10 | Masovia | Chicken | 18,000 | Dry feed | 2021 | November | 5.1 °C |
[i] TMR – total mixed ration
Temperatures according to the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW) (9)
Table 2
Samples associated with suspected animal botulism cases in Poland sent to the National Veterinary Research Institute laboratory from 2019 to 2021
| Serum | Intestinal content | Liver | Spleen | Kidney | Faeces Wet | feed | Dry feed | Ensilage | Water | Mixed samples of internal organs | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2 | − | + | + | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | + |
| 3 | + | + | + | − | − | + | − | − | + | − | − |
| 4 | + | + | + | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − |
| 5 | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − | − |
| 6 | + | − | + | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | + |
| 7 | − | + | + | + | + | − | − | + | − | − | − |
| 8 | + | + | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| 9 | + | − | − | − | − | + | − | − | + | − | − |
| 10 | + | + | + | − | − | + | − | − | − | + | − |
| Total | 37 |
Fig. 2
The average temperatures in the periods and areas affected by botulism outbreaks according to the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (9)
Table 3
Symptoms manifested during particular botulism cases
| Symptom | Case | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Animal | ||||||||||
| Cattle | Mink | Cattle | Mink | Cattle | Mink | Cattle | Horse | Cattle | Chicken | |
| Difficulties in swallowing | + | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Reduced muscle tone | + | + | + | + | + | − | − | − | + | + |
| Descending, flaccid, | + | − | − | + | − | + | − | + | − | − |
| Breathing difficulties | − | + | − | + | − | − | + | + | + | + |
| Salivation | − | − | − | + | − | + | + | − | + | − |
| Constipation | − | − | + | + | − | − | + | + | − | − |
| Ptosis | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | + |
| Dryness of the mucous | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | + | − | − |
| Urination disorder | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| Dilation of the pupils | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − |
| Other symptoms | − | − | − | − | − | + diarrhoea | − | − | − | − |
Table 4
Results of the tests used in laboratory examination and classification of the cases
| Case | MBA | PCR (ntnh gene detection) | PCR (bont gene detection) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 2 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 3 | + | + | + | Confirmed in laboratory |
| 4 | + | + | + | Confirmed in laboratory |
| 5 | + | − | − | Confirmed in laboratory |
| 6 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 7 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 8 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 9 | − | − | − | Probable |
| 10 | + | + | + | Confirmed in laboratory |
Table 5
Results obtained for samples associated with suspected animal botulism cases
| Cases | Animal | Serum | Intestinal content | Liver | Spleen | Kidney | Faeces | Wet feed | Dry feed | Ensilage | Water | Mixed samples internal of organs | Toxin type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cattle | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 2 | Mink | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 3 | Cattle | + | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | D |
| 4 | Mink | + | − | + | − | − | − | + | − | − | − | − | C |
| 5 | Cattle | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | C |
| 6 | Mink | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 7 | Cattle | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 8 | Horse | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 9 | Cattle | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − | − |
| 10 | Chicken | + | − | + | − | − | − | − | − | − | + | − | C |