Author, Donkey, Bureaucrats, Administrators
53,803
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Created page with '*Causes tetanus *Acute, potentially fatal intoxication affecting many species *Horses and man particularly…'
*Causes [[Tremors and Movement Disorders (Nervous System) - Pathology#Tetanus|tetanus]]
*Acute, potentially fatal intoxication affecting many species
*Horses and man particularly susceptible; carnivores fairly resistant
*Found in horse faeces
*Characteristics:
**Terminal, spherical endospores give mother cells a drumstick appearance
**Endospores resistant to boiling and chemicals but susceptible to autoclaving
**Swarming growth and haemolytic on blood agar
**Many serotypes but all produce same neurotoxin, tetanospasmin, therefore antibodies neutralise all
*Pathogenesis:
**Endospores introduced via damaged tissues e.g. penetrating wounds
**Damaged tissue creates an anaerobic environment, allowing germination of spores
**Tetanospasmin made by bacteria replicating in damaged tissue
**Absorbed toxin affects neuromuscular junction distant from site of toxin production
**Neurotoxin binds irreversibly to ganglioside receptors on motor neurons and is transported to nerve cell body
**Toxins transported across synapse to terminals of inhibitory neurons where they block transmission of signals
**Spastic paralysis by constant tensing of muscles results
**Toxin can be blood-borne and bind to motor terminals throughout the body as well as in the CNS
*Clinical signs:
**Incubation period 5-10 days
**Stiffness, localised spasms, altered heart and respiratory rates, dysphagia, altered facial expression, lock-jaw from mastigatory muscle spasm
**Tonic muscle contraction easily stimulated
*Treatment:
**Antitoxin IV or into subarachnoid space on 3 consecutive days
**Toxoid subcutaneously to promote active immune response
**Penicillin to kill vegetative cells
**Debridement and flushing of wound with hydrogen peroxide
**Fluids, sedatives, muscle relaxants
*Control:
**Toxoid vaccine for farm animals
**Debridement of wounds in horses
[[Category:Neurotoxic Clostridia]][[Category:Cattle]][[Category:Dog]][[Category:Horse]]
*Acute, potentially fatal intoxication affecting many species
*Horses and man particularly susceptible; carnivores fairly resistant
*Found in horse faeces
*Characteristics:
**Terminal, spherical endospores give mother cells a drumstick appearance
**Endospores resistant to boiling and chemicals but susceptible to autoclaving
**Swarming growth and haemolytic on blood agar
**Many serotypes but all produce same neurotoxin, tetanospasmin, therefore antibodies neutralise all
*Pathogenesis:
**Endospores introduced via damaged tissues e.g. penetrating wounds
**Damaged tissue creates an anaerobic environment, allowing germination of spores
**Tetanospasmin made by bacteria replicating in damaged tissue
**Absorbed toxin affects neuromuscular junction distant from site of toxin production
**Neurotoxin binds irreversibly to ganglioside receptors on motor neurons and is transported to nerve cell body
**Toxins transported across synapse to terminals of inhibitory neurons where they block transmission of signals
**Spastic paralysis by constant tensing of muscles results
**Toxin can be blood-borne and bind to motor terminals throughout the body as well as in the CNS
*Clinical signs:
**Incubation period 5-10 days
**Stiffness, localised spasms, altered heart and respiratory rates, dysphagia, altered facial expression, lock-jaw from mastigatory muscle spasm
**Tonic muscle contraction easily stimulated
*Treatment:
**Antitoxin IV or into subarachnoid space on 3 consecutive days
**Toxoid subcutaneously to promote active immune response
**Penicillin to kill vegetative cells
**Debridement and flushing of wound with hydrogen peroxide
**Fluids, sedatives, muscle relaxants
*Control:
**Toxoid vaccine for farm animals
**Debridement of wounds in horses
[[Category:Neurotoxic Clostridia]][[Category:Cattle]][[Category:Dog]][[Category:Horse]]