Tetanus in animals

Michel Popoff (1)

1 Toxines bactériennes - Bacterial Toxins

Tetanus is a neurologic disease of humans and animals characterized by spastic paralysis. Tetanus is caused by tetanus toxin (TeNT) produced by Clostridium tetani, an environmental soilborne, gram-positive, sporulating bacterium. The disease most often results from wound contamination by soil containing C. tetani spores. Horses, sheep, and humans are highly sensitive to TeNT, whereas cattle, dogs, and cats are more resistant. The diagnosis of tetanus is mainly based on the characteristic clinical signs. Identification of C. tetani at the wound site is often difficult.

Keywords: diagnosis; animals; Clostridium tetani; tetanus; tetanus toxin

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Subcellular Processes [q-bio.SC]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Cell Behavior [q-bio.CB]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Microbiology and Parasitology; Bacteriology

Michel Popoff. Tetanus in animals. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2020, 32 (2), pp.184-191. ⟨10.1177/1040638720906814⟩. ⟨pasteur-02526019⟩