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Equine grass sickness (EGS) occurs mainly in Great Britain, but has once been reported in Hungary. The stud which was affected by EGS in 2001 had no new cases until 2009/10, when 11 of 60 and five of 12 one- to three-year-old colts died or were euthanased due to EGS. Following a few hours in the high-risk field during the winter of 2010/11 further four cases of acute EGS were noted among these horses. The affected horses showed somewhat different clinical signs compared with the cases reported in Great Britain. Histopathological findings in these horses were consistent with EGS. In most examined cases carbofuran, a carbamate was found in the liver by toxicological examination, and it is postulated that carbofuran may influence the immune system and therefore predispose the horses to develop EGS. Carbamates are thought to cause a delayed neurotoxicity in human beings. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential role of carbamates in EGS.

An outbreak of botulism was suspected at an Austrian dairy farm in June 2010. Six Simmental cows, out of a herd of 29, were affected and showed the typical signs. The affected cows included either animals suffering from sudden recumbency and reduced tongue tone or others which developed paresis, which gradually led to recumbency. Most of the affected animals died. Two cases were submitted to the Clinic for Ruminants at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in order to clarify the cause of illness. The animals had reportedly been fed recently with silage possibly polluted by discarded cat carcasses spread onto the pasture used for the silage in question. The two referred cases both showed recumbency and swallowing difficulties. Both cows had to be euthanized. One of the two cows was in the late stage of pregnancy and a healthy calf could be delivered by Caesarean section. The outbreak of botulism was diagnosed clinically as well as by confirmation of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins C and D by mouse bioassay. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report in which a live calf has been delivered out of a cow suffering from acute botulism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]