A 10-day old California foal originally suspected of having a fractured vertebrae was diagnosed with a type A Clostridium botulinum toxicoinfection. Treatment with plasma containing antibodies to C. botulinum type B and C toxins and subsequently types A, B and C2, along with supportive therapies, allowed the foal to be discharged after a 30-day stay in the clinic.
Source: The Paulick Report, March 21, 2016.
The vet team reports that this is the first documented case of equine survival from Type A botulism. Timely therapeutic management appears critical for the successful treatment of Type A botulism, the treating veterinarians noted. They also noted that head and neck weakness can be an early indicator of botulism.