<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Tetanus is a neurologic non-transmissible disease (often fatal) of humans and other animals with a worldwide occurrence. <italic>Clostridium tetani</italic> is the spore producing bacillus which causes the bacterial disease. In deep penetrating wounds the spores germinate and produce a toxin called tetanospasmin. The main characteristic sign of tetanus is a spastic paralysis. A diagnosis is usually based on the clinical signs because the detection in the wound and the cultivation of <italic>C. tetani</italic> is very difficult. Between animal species there is considerable variability in the susceptibility to the bacillus. The most sensitive animal species to the neurotoxin are horses. Sheep and cattle are less sensitive and tetanus in these animal species are less common. Tetanus in cats and dogs are rare and dogs are less sensitive than cats. Clinically two forms of tetanus have been recognized, i. e. localized and generalized. The available treatment is not specific because the toxin in neuronal cells cannot be accessed by antitoxin antibodies. The aim of the therapy is to: neutralise the unbound neurotoxin, inhibit <italic>C. tetani</italic> growth in the wound, and provide supportive care to mitigate the effects of the neurotoxin. The treatment is difficult with an unclear prognosis.</p></abstract>

Tetanus is a neurologic non-transmissible disease (often fatal) of humans and other animals with a worldwide occurrence. Clostridium tetani is the spore producing bacillus which causes the bacterial disease. In deep penetrating wounds the spores germinate and produce a toxin called tetanospasmin. The main characteristic sign of tetanus is a spastic paralysis. A diagnosis is usually based on the clinical signs because the detection in the wound and the cultivation of C. tetani is very difficult. Between animal species there is considerable variability in the susceptibility to the bacillus. The most sensitive animal species to the neurotoxin are horses. Sheep and cattle are less sensitive and tetanus in these animal species are less common. Tetanus in cats and dogs are rare and dogs are less sensitive than cats. Clinically two forms of tetanus have been recognized, i. e. localized and generalized. The available treatment is not specific because the toxin in neuronal cells cannot be accessed by antitoxin antibodies. The aim of the therapy is to: neutralise the unbound neurotoxin, inhibit C. tetani growth in the wound, and provide supportive care to mitigate the effects of the neurotoxin. The treatment is difficult with an unclear prognosis.

Tetanus in Animals — Summary of Knowledge

Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Tetanus in Animals \u2014 Summary of Knowledge"}

Tetanus is a neurologic non-transmissible disease (often fatal) of humans and other animals with a worldwide occurrence. Clostridium tetani is the spore...

Tetanus in Animals — Summary of Knowledge

Publié en ligne: 06 oct. 2020

Pages: 54 - 60

Reçu: 30 juin 2020

Accepté: 03 août 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0027

Mots clés
animal, toxin, spasm, treatment

© 2020 Z. Malinovská et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Tetanus in Animals — Summary of Knowledge

Publié en ligne: 06 oct. 2020

Pages: 54 - 60

Reçu: 30 juin 2020

Accepté: 03 août 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0027

Mots clésanimal, toxin, spasm, treatment

© 2020 Z. Malinovská et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Mots clés
animal, toxin, spasm, treatment