AVIAN BOTULISM Avian botulism is a serious
neuromuscular illness of birds caused by a toxin that is produced by the
bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Avian botulism has been recognized as
major cause of mortality in wild-birds since the 1900s.
Botulinum is a natural toxin produced by bacteria known as
Clostridium botulin. The bacteria is commonly found in the
soil, river, and seawater. There are around eight types — A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, and G — of botulinum toxin and all types of toxins attack the neurons, which leads to muscle paralysis.
Botulinum affects
both humans and animals but the type of the toxin varies — botulinum C in birds and A, B, and E in humans.
