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Short communication: Attempts to identify Clostridium botulinum toxin in milk from three experimentally intoxicated Holstein cows

R. B. Moeller, Jr.^*,1, B. Puschner, R. L. Walker, T. E. Rocke, S. R. Smith, J. S. Cullor and A. A. Ardans

^* California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Tulare 93274
California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, University of California, Davis 95816
US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WI 53711
Veterinary Medical Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Tulare 93274

¹ Corresponding author: rbmoeller{at}ucdavis.edu

Three adult lactating Holstein cows were injected in the subcutaneous abdominal vein with 175 ng/kg of body weight of Clostridium botulinum type C toxin (451 cow median toxic doses) to determine if this botulinum toxin crosses the blood–milk barrier. Whole blood (in sodium heparin) and clotted blood serum samples were taken at 0 min, 10 min, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 h postinoculation. Milk samples were taken at 0 min and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 h postinoculation. All samples were tested for the presence of the toxin using the mouse bioassay and immunostick ELISA test. The immunostick ELISA identified the toxin in whole blood and the mouse bioassay identified the toxin in serum at all times examined in all 3 animals. Toxin was not identified by either detection method in milk samples collected from the 3 animals. From these results, it appears that Clostridium botulinum type C toxin does not cross from the blood to the milk in detectable concentrations.

Key Words: botulism • Clostridium botulinum toxin type C • milk