More horses have fallen ill with a mystery illness at Kooralbyn located southeast of Queensland. The illness has killed 21 quarter horses, with three others down, and just one horse left without symptoms.
Results from a new round of autopsies are expected soon and the analysis has been widened to include tests for botulism.
The owner of the horses has expressed concern that his animals, bred for sprint events, may have been deliberately poisoned by an opponent of racing. The RSPCA has ruled out animal cruelty in the deaths.
If the cause of the deaths is botulism,the distinct toxin needs to be identified and the particular antiserum must be given as soon as possible to any surviving horses that might be affected. In many cases, the right anti-toxin serum may not be available and when it is, treatments are expensive and may run as high as $3,000 per horse without any guarantee that the treatment will work.