CRUCIAL PAPER 38:
Glyphosate linked to botulism and other animal health problems
Three very interesting papers from Monika Kruger and her team in Leipzig, where the health effects of glyphosate are under close scrutiny. The research is flagging up the effects which glyphosate has on the gut micro-organisma in animals, for example by damaging the beneficial bacteria while not having such a dramatic effect on other "harmful" bacteria. They say" "A reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract microbiota by ingestion of glyphosate could disturb the normal gut bacterial community." They have studied poultry and cattle -- and are homing in on the incidence of botulism. They show that the farmers who look after sick cattle with botulism often have botulism too. C. botulinum occurs in cows' and farmers' feces, and in cattle feeds. The researchers show that the humans are most likely getting infected not from the cattle but from the feeds, because the same type of botulinum is present in both humans and feeds, but the type of botulinum in the cattle is different. There is now a strong probability that glyphosate residues in animal feeds result in botulism in the cattle and also in related ailments in poultry.
Visceral botulism at dairy farms in Schleswig Holstein, Germany - Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum in feces of cows, in animal feeds, in feces of the farmers, and in house dust
by Monika Krüger, Anke Große-Herrenthey, Wieland Schrödl, Achim Gerlach, Arne Rodloff
Anaerobe 18 (2012) 221e223
Accepted 11 December 2011 Available online 21 December 2011
Abstract
>From 41 dairy farms in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, 196 fecal specimens of diseased cows, 77 fecal specimens of farmers and family members from 26 of these farms, 35 animal feed specimens and 7 house dust specimens were investigated for Clostridium botulinum and its antigens, respectively. Four of the humans under study (one child, 8 month, and three adults) showed symptoms of infant/visceral botulism. Specimens were cultivated in reinforced clostridial medium (RCM). C. botulinum antigens were detected by ELISA. The aim of the study was to obtain information on the relationship of detected C. botulinum toxin-types in cows, in the feces of attending humans, and in the immediate environment. The results revealed that C. botulinum toxin-types were different for cows and humans. Toxin-type A was dominant in cow feces while type E was found in humans. Type E was also present in some animal feed specimens. Conversely, toxin-type A was prevalent in the house dust of farms. It may be assumed that the feeds were the source of human colonization with C. botulinum.
The Effect of Glyphosate on Potential Pathogens and Beneficial Members of Poultry Microbiota In Vitro
by Awad A. Shehata, Wieland Schro¨dl, Alaa. A. Aldin, Hafez M. Hafez , and Monika Kru¨ger
Curr Microbiol DOI 10.1007/s00284-012-0277-2 Received: 14 August 2012 / Accepted: 15 November 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2012
Abstract
The use of glyphosate modifies the environment which stresses the living microorganisms. The aim of the present study was to determine the real impact of glyphosate on potential pathogens and beneficial members of poultry microbiota in vitro. The presented results evidence that the highly pathogenic bacteria as Salmonella Entritidis, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum are highly resistant to glyphosate. However, most of beneficial bacteria as Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus badius, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus spp. were found to be moderate to highly susceptible. Also Campylobacter spp. were found to be susceptible to glyphosate. A reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract microbiota by ingestion of glyphosate could disturb the normal gut bacterial community. Also, the toxicity of glyphosate to the most prevalent Enterococcus spp. could be a significant predisposing factor that is associated with the increase in C. botulinum-mediated diseases by suppressing the antagonistic effect of these bacteria on clostridia.
Glyphosate suppresses the antagonistic effect of Enterococcus spp. on Clostridium botulinum
by Monika Krüger, Awad Ali Shehata, Wieland Schrödl, Arne Rodloff.
Anaerobe 20 (2013) 74e78 Accepted 29 January 2013 Available online 6 February 2013
Abstract
During the last 10e15 years, an increase of Clostridium botulinum associated diseases in cattle has been observed in Germany. The reason for this development is currently unknown. The normal intestinal microflora is a critical factor in preventing intestinal colonisation by C. botulinum as shown in the mouse model of infant botulism. Numerous bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) produce bacteriocines directed against C. botulinum and other pathogens: Lactic acid producing bacteria (LAB) such as lactobacilli, lactococci and enterococci, generate bacteriocines that are effective against Clostridium spp. A reduction of LAB in the GIT microbiota by ingestion of strong biocides like glyphosate could be an explanation for the observed increase in levels of C. botulinum associated diseases. In the present paper, we report on the toxicity of glyphosate to the most prevalent Enterococcus spp. in the GIT. Ingestion of this herbicide could be a significant predisposing factor that is associated with the increase in C. botulinum mediated diseases in cattle.