Caption title."April, 1940."Limberneck (botulism) is the name given to the disease which results from birds eating and absorbing the poison excreted or thrown off by a bacterium (clostridium botulinum). This organism was first isolated from spoiled sausages and for that reason the disease was called botulism, which is the Latin word for sausage. There are two types, A and C, of the bacteria which may produce limberneck in fowls. It should be mentioned that extensive losses have occurred in the United States in wild waterfowls caused by the botulism Type C."--Page 1

Durant, A. J. (Adrian Jackson), 1886-1980

University of Missouri: MOspace

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION M. F. MILLER, Director CIRCULAR 207 Oolumbia, Missouri APRIL, 1940 Limberneck (Botulism) In Fowls A. J . . DURANT A few cases of limberneck in poultry are reported each year at the veterinary department of the Missouri Experiment Station, and though this disease never occurs in the form of an epidemic, it is of sufficient frequency to justify information being made available concerning its nature and control. In most of the cases of poultry infection which have been investigated in Missouri the source of the toxic material has been decaying animal or bird carcasses. Losses in poultry from eating spoiled canned vegetables seem to be less common in this state. Limberneck (botulism) · is the name given to the disease which results from birds eating and absorbing the poison excreted or thrown off by a bacterium (clostridium botulinum). This organism was first isolated from spoiled sausages and for that reason the disease was called botulism, which is the Latin word for sausage. There ' are two types, A and 0, of the bacteria which may produce limberneck in fowls. It should be mentioned that extensive losses have occurred in the United States in wild waterfowls caused by the botulism organism Type O. This disease may affect all classes of poultry, but it is mo~e com-mon in chickens and ducks, in which it may cause the loss of a majority of a flock in a very short period of time. A limber neck and loose feathers are the most characteristic symptoms of the disease. In advanc'ed cases there may be a complete paralysis of the entire body. . The disease is more likely to occur in the hot summer months after a rainy spell than at other times, though it may occur at any season of the year, depending upon the source of the infection. When describing diseases of birQ.s the most c9mmoI). forms . are usually recorded, as they are most frequently encountered by the poultryman. However, unusual forms of this disease ;may occur. 2 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Coburn'*' and Quortrup have reported an unusual occurrence of botulism or limberneck in turkeys. Because some form of this might occur in some of the plains regions of this state, the circumstances should probably be explained in some detail. The outbreak occurred in "a flock of 1400 birds in Utah. The birds were ranging on a 20-acre stubble field. Fifty birds were sick at the time of our visit and ~O birds were reported to have died during the previous week. In the middle of the field was' a shallow pool of irrigation ·water. It was immediately suspected that this stagnant pool was the source of the trouble." S'ubsequent investigations by the authors showed that botulism toxin was present in the stagnant water in sufficient quantities to produce death in the turkeys. A test of the soil showed that Type C botulism organism was present and the water contained sufficient vegetative material to serve as a natural cultural medium for the development of the toxin producing organism. The value of this report is evident, as it clearly shows that decay-ing vegetation in stagnant water may be the source of a highly toxic substance. Poultrymen may avoid such dangers by providing their flocks with an abundance of clean water and preventing them from ranging in areas containing stagnant water. Oause The micro-organisms and the poisons produced by them are com-monly found in decaying carcasses of animals or in spoiled canned foods. Spoiled vegetables, such as canned beans, string beans, canned corn, and various other vegetables have caused large losses when fed to poultry flocks. It is probable that the disease occurs more frequently as a result of chickens feeding on dead carcasses of farm animals, such as hogs, other chickens, and sometimes dead rats whi.ch have not been found by the poultryman. It is not uncommon for chickens to die with typical limberneck symptoms when they have eaten maggots that have developeq on dead carcasses. Not all maggots produce limber-neck symptoms when eaten by chickens; it is only those that have fed on the carcasses of animals which contain the disease. Symptoms In mild outbreaks of the disease the first symptoDiti'sually noticed is that in the morning a few of t ,he birds may remain on the roosts, some ofwllich, when' in a standing position, have their heads hang-1 io i . ' ' .. ~, ! • , ', , •. " " I , ' ' , ', " , " ' . , • ~p()bll1'1l<i:PQ1l B.. .& .Ou"rtrup, Erling R., ' 'A tYP)Cl'i- BO~I!1ism in Tl't"1!:<:ys"-A.V.¥.A. Jour .• bee .• 1939...o:.vol xcrn. N. S. V. 46, No.6. ( ' II«, I' I. AI!. 2()7 :~ illg jl l' I'I'C' et l,I' lilllp , ill 11 PCllciul oliS pos iti oll ill 1'1'11111 or lh(, IJO(iy , 11 (',ol1lpl e te loss of' tOlli('it y of th e mns('l ('s Il ilVill g del'( 'llljwd, SO IlI l' b ird s 11I<1 ~' s ho ll' oll ly a s light pa ra lys is, il l w hi e lt 111 (' Il ee k wi ll lH' "bO I\'Nl" lit a l'lItil (' r sha r p ang-lc lI ear the middl c, 'rhis r.ond iti oll is (;ausCu by a sellli or cO luplete pumlys is o[ til e nec k nll l:,wlE's, 11 1-low in g' 11 ((> 11 C';(( 1 1111(1 11 ('(, k to il HIl g- lilllP , ( j"ig':-;, 1 111111 :2 ) , F ig. I.- Bird s afTC'cled wi th iil l1 herlH:ck ( hot uli s1II ) in th e C:1 r1 y s la g(,-'~ hefore cOlllpi ctto paralysis had occ ll rred. Th e bird 011 th t' ri ght has (h e typi cal h(iwl.,d !l cck in whi ch olll y half of th e l1 ('c k is a ff ec lt·d. Th e hird on th e Id l. has los t l'llli rc Cll ll1 roi elf th e head and is restil1 g it on the fl oo r. Th l' nile t ill the righl llIa<i t" :1 ni c(" rCl'CI \' tTY IllIdl'r In'a ll11 f" I!. TIll' ()Ill" 1111 Il.t ' lef t rli f'rl fro m th e di !o;C'ast' . III seVer E' oLltbrE'Hks of til l' diseas(' IlI illly birlbi lll HY Ill' i'OIIIIlI dead, lind 1'h c slHlclen 11,1 r ea r'H ll e(' of sr l'C'ral casE's of t,\'pi( ~ a l li11lb C' I'T1 E'ck ill the fl oc k is mmall y th e first iJ1(li cation of tli r diKcasr, A bri g- li t rC'cl comb , I'uflled feathers (easi ly pull ed 011 1'. ) , panllysis of the t hin] rye-lid, H1Hl a lim bel' n ecl, HJ'I' prohab ly th E' IIl Ost chal'tLcter isti e symptoms of th e di sC' flse, US Llall y largr lHllllhel's of th e floC'k fll 'r id1'C' ct ecl at once anel ar e fOllnd ly in g- in a r ec llmbrnt pos itiolJ , einl er Oil t' li e ir chests OJ' siel es, Wh en p ick ed lip they Hl ay ut ter a C I'~' oE pain and th e feather s fir e so 100Re many of th em are removrd whil e th e hil'd F; al'e be in g ltandl ecl , A sub-nOl'lllal t r mper'fltuJ'e is so me-tim es present. A watery 0 1' whitish clianh ea may be pr~sent and th e skin, so il r d hy this di sc harge, may flpprll l' rE'd lind congN,tC'ci. Often wh en a bird dead from th e disease is examin ed, the crop may ('onta in a number of mag-got f; and bitf; of del'omposed mcat, 80mE'-timE'S th E' rl'op contaim, Rpoil e(l rom, spoil ed hr flll R, or oth cr fooel that eani es t11e toxic material. T~ol'lses from limberneck may va l'Y frol1l fi ro to f)5 ,/'r. of a flock, nnl esl'; m.eaSl1l'eR ar e promptly il1 l'1titu1'ecl fOl' its ('ontr'ol as ROOll flS th e di sease is flrl'lt noti re(l, 4 MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Differential Diagnosis 'I'here are several diseases which might be mistaken for true limberneck or botulism. There is a condition in fowls known as wry neck, in which the neck is twisted or held to one side but is not limp as in the case of botulism or true limberneck. Wry neck may be caused by worm troubles, by infection of the middle ear, by fowl paralysis, or by severe intestinal disturbances, due to organisms or foreign bodies other than those producing true limberneck. Another condition which may easily be mistaken for the last stages of true limberneck is a form of malnutrition which occurs as a result of an inadequate diet. Ducks and geese are most frequently affected, and in these cases there is a generalized paralysis, the bird being in an unconscious state, helpless, with eyes closed, remaining in this state for two or three days or longer. There is labored res-piration. This condition may be distinguished from limberneck in that the birds live longer; they are on an exclusive grain ration; there is a lack of paralysis of the neck muscles; the feathers are not loose; ahd they quickly respond to a diet high in protein. In the early stages of limberneck there is no loss of power of movement of the body muscles, but there is a loss of function of the neck muscles. Prevention 'rhe prevention of this disease is the most important factor in its control. The poultryman should feed his flock a liberal, well-bal-anced, adequate ration at all times, since well fed birds are much . less likely to pick up foods containing the poison which produces limber-neck. The farm should be carefully searched for all dead or decay-ing animal meats which when found should be burned or deeply buried. No spoiled canned vegetables should be thrown out to the poultry. Treatment It is very important to make an early diagnosis of limber-neck in chickcns. The earlier a diagnosis is made and proper measures for control are instituted, the less likely are large losses to occur in a flock. If a large number of birds are affected a veterinarian should be called in immediately, as antitoxins (serums) are of great importance. In case only a few birds are affected and the antitoxins are not available, many of the birds can be saved by the following treatment : It is not unusual to find a good deal of poisonous material still in the ctopof an affected bird. In order to prevent further absorption of the poison, the crop should be emptied as soon as possible. The crop is emptied by flushing with water several times. It is well to 1Idd 11 1;lb l('s pO() llfld or bil';ll'iJOIl1l11' or sod;1 10 pal' 11 q l!;II'1 or 111l' WH l pI' m:rd ill f lllsilill g' I'll!' (,],Ojl, .\ 1011 g' Ilozzle blli h SY l'ill g'l' ( liozzl(' Ii 10 H ill (' Ii !'s IOll g' ) (I I' dosin g' sY l'i llg'!' 1't/lIipppd w ill i it IOll g' nozz l(' Illill li as hprll Tl srll fol' (lrrl1('h-ill g' sll ('('p is sil1'isi'al'iol 'Y , '1'11 (' bil'd In li al'l' i ts ('1'Op r ilipli t'd sll uIlILll.)(.' pl ;1('('<1 (II I a Ir\'r l tah l(', Oil i ts ('II ('s l witll il s frC'!' Hil d Irp;s st r:('tcli ccl il;l<'k alld il s 11 ('ad II r ld sli g' lill y lowe l' 1'11;111 t hr I ('\'t' I oj' 111 (' lab le, 'I' h(' IOll g' 11 0/:70 11' sY l'ill g'r 01' bil ib sY l'ill g'e sll ol dd I ii I' ll br fi ll r d \ril ll wn l r l', FIg. 1.- :-\ bier phot ogra ph of tlw bin i shuwll Oil Ihc' left in F igufI' 1 in Ih t.' Ilion' adv:lllcc:d -. laJ.!(',", !If lilllh l' nll ,('k w hf'n ClIlll ll l l'l e jlar;d y ... is of th t, t'lltire hcw ly has takt'll place just he fo rf' dC"<tl h . lli (' Ilozz l e' of whi(~ 1i sil old d be passe'd !I O \\' II lil e tlll'OHt 0[' t he bil'd alld lli t' \\'at('l' rxpe ll ed in t. il (' (' I'O P, 'I'll is sll oldd be I'cp('ated IIntil t il e ('I 'Op is \\,pl l di st ended witil t hr waLe I', Til E' watel' rind l'1'Op ('o lltE' nts l11a y lil ell 1)(, ['emoved by holdin g- Ihe beak open witl l til e il 1l1rx fill /.,rt' I' of' t li (' I t' f' t hancl ancl with til e I' ig- ill' halld fin g'rl's extended pnsll h:'1<']( -lI'al'(l, IIpwal'd and fOl'wftnl 0 11 till' d isl clllled (' I'Op, lit th e sa llle I illl (, 1I 0l dinj.f th e bird's hrad clowllwal'd, Til 1'emovill g' til (' solid matHial wit h th e water from Ul r ('1'Op rare sil oll i d be exen'isrcl l o keep th(' lal'g'e pi ece!4 ('o min ~ f r om t it r r ]'op fl'O lIl lorl j.f ing rlI' till' hasr of lit r IOIl g' lI r , t hel'eby forring- waJrl' into t il e wi ndpipe, This ('fin br p l'e-\' IIl'ed by Ihe li se of t he illdrx fin ger , t he t ip of w iti ('it i s il1 ~ id l' LlI (' hircl 's mouth , It may be ne('essa r? t o fi ll and r mpt? t he r l'op sr\'('1' a 1 ti mes bE'fo1'e all t he solid mal erial is r cmoyerl, Aft('1' th e r rop i s empty ('itch hil' cl sit onlcl br j.f i \'rll C'rlS lO1: oil ancl tlll'penlin r, Th esf' drug'S mfl~' be pl aeecl dirl'l't ly intot li r n or wit it th (' h llib O t' cl ose syrin ~e wh i(' it was previo ll s l~' 1 Is('(l , OIl f' tilhl ('s po() l1 -f ill of' ('astor oil ro ntainill g' 17 10 23 (il'ops of 11lI'prntin f' mlly hI' g' i n> 1I 10 (,;H'h ('h i(,kr n, Th e close l1lay hf' donhl f'(l fOt' l al'g'(' tlll'k ('ys, 6 l\'[ISSOURI AGRICULTURAL EXPERDfENT STA'l'ION If the removal of the material and the purgative are administered early enough in the disease, the majority of the birds treated will make a rapid and uneventful recovery. For the apparently healthy birds in the flock a brisk purge is recommended. Epsom salts may be o-iven in a wet mash at the rate of one pound of salts for 100 birds and b . just enough mixed so that the birds will clean up all of the feed at one time. It is of course very important to follow the suggestions given under prevention and to see that all of the offending material on the farm is removed and properly disposed of to preYellt further exposnre of the flock. 

Limberneck (botulism) in fowls

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