Experimental botulism in Pekin ducks.

Clostridium botulinum types B, C, and E were found to produce toxin in killed Pekin ducks after oral administration of spores to the live birds. The highest toxin production was found when the ducks were killed within 40 minutes after the administration of the spores. If the ducks were killed after 4 hours, only small amounts of toxin or no toxin at all was found. Pekin ducks were sensitive to botulinum toxin type C-L after oral administration, the LD50 being 9.6 X 10(4) intraperitoneal mouse LD50. Toxin types B-L, B-M, C-M, and E failed to produce symptoms of botulism. The intravenous LD50 for types B-L, B-M, C-L, and E were respectively 1.5 X 10(4), 1.6 X 10(4), 3.0 X 10(2), and 2.5 X 10(6) intraperitoneal mouse LD50. Although the results clearly showed that ducks are orally not sensitive for botulinum toxin types B and E, multiplication and toxin production of C. botulinum types B and E in dead ducks is possible. Therefore, such carcasses can be vectors in cycles of these types in the environment.