Tetanus

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Sections available in full article Introduction, Presenting signs, Age predisposition, Sex predisposition, Cost considerations, Special risks (e.g. anesthetic), Pathogenesis, Etiology, Pathophysiology, Timecourse (incubation, duration), Diagnosis, Presenting problems, Client history, Clinical signs, Confirmation of diagnosis, Differential diagnosis, Treatment, Standard treatment, Prevention, Prophylaxis, Sequelae, Prognosis, Expected response to treatment, Reasons for treatment failure, Sources, Publications, Vetstream contributor(s),
Contributors Dr Kim Willoughby BVMS PhD MRCVS

Introduction

  • Cause : toxin produced by Clostridium tetani  Clostridium tetani  .
  • Signs : generalized or localized muscle spasms.
  • Diagnosis : clinical signs and history.
  • Treatment : supportive.
  • Prognosis : good provided animal is supported through critical period.

Diagnosis

Clinical signs

  • Facial expression is virtually pathognomonic:
    • Frown.
    • Third eyelid prolapse.
  • Hyper-responsiveness to external stimuli.
  • Spastic limbs and tail  Tetanus  .
  • Eventually head may be drawn back over body and limbs rigidly extended.
  • Occasionally localized disease, most often in single limb. This usually progresses to disseminated disease.

Diagnosis

Differential diagnosis

  • Polymyositis.
  • Strychnine poisoning  Strychnine toxicity  .
  • Organophosphate poisoning  Organophosphorus poisoning  .
  • Metaldehyde poisoning  Metaldehyde poisoning  .
  • Meningitis  Meningomyelitis: bacterial and fungal  .
  • Rabies  Rabies  .

Sequelae

Prognosis

  • Good prognosis if mildly affected.
  • Prognosis in severe cases is largely dependent on quality of supportive care.

Expected response to treatment

  • Relaxation of muscle spasms.

Reasons for treatment failure

  • Incorrect diagnosis.
  • Inadequate supportive care - most animals die as a result of respiratory failure or aspiration pneumonia.

Sources

Publications

Refereed papers

  • Polizopoulou ZSet al(2002)Presumed localized tetanus in two cats.J Feline Med Surg4(4), 209-212.
  • Lee EA & Jones BR (1998)Localised tetanus in two cats after ovariohysterectomy.N Z Vet J30, 469-473.
  • Baker JL, Waters DJ & de Lahunta A (1988)Tetanus in two cats.JAAHA24, 159-164.
  • Goodwin RLG (1985)Tetanus in a cat.Vet Rec116, 574.
  • Killingsworth C, Chiapella A, Veralli P & de Lahunta A. (1977)Feline tetanus.JAAHA.13, 209-215.

Other sources of information

  • Greene CE (1998)Tetanus.In:Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat.2nd Edn. Ed. Greene CE. WB Saunders Co. pp 267-273.

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