5.4 Gram positive spore forming anaerobic rods Flashcards
characteristics of clostridium: morphology, gram, environment, growth, toxins, prevention, etc.
- Large spore-forming rods
- Gram positive
- Widespread in environment (soil), large bowel
- Rapid multiplication, simple growth requirements
- Powerful toxin producers
- Often prevented by toxoid immunization
types of neurotoxic clostridia
C. botulinum
C. tetani
Neurotoxic clostridia: Clostridium tetani characteristics: gram, environment, disease, species, etc
- Gram positive, anaerobe
- Agent of tetanus
- Deep wounds
- Species susceptibility: Horse > human > other species (dogs and cats less)
- All species can develop tetanus
Clostridium tetani spore shape and what we find in infected wounds
tennis-racket shape (terminal spores). There is frequently a mixture of bacteria in the wound.
Clostridium tetani: pathogenesis
- C. tetani produces toxin at infection site.
- Toxin migrates through axon to CNS
- Toxin migrates to inhibitory neuron
- Toxin in inhibitory neuron inhibits release of inhibitory transmitters (GABA and glycin)
- Motor neuron can fire stimulatory signals uninhibited > SPASM
Clostridium tetani: clinical signs
spasms
Clostridium tetani: diagnosis
- clinical signs and history of recent trauma
- detection of toxin or C. tetani DNA by PCR
- direct smear from wound (Gram stain)
Clostridium tetani: treatment and prevention
Treatment: calm, darkness, silence, muscle relaxants, artificial respiration
* Antibiotics: local infection, but cannot act on the toxin
- Prevention: vaccination, wound hygiene, avoid trauma
Neurotoxic clostridia: Clostridium botulinum characteristics: gram, environment, toxins, effects, animals affected
- Gram positive, anaerobe
- Ubiquitous environment
- Most potent toxin known
- Causes flaccid paralysis if toxin ingested
- “Intoxication” (ingest preformed toxin) mostly
- Animals affected: wildfowl, poultry, cattle, sheep, horses (occasionally dogs and pigs)
- Humans: improperly home-canned, preserved, or fermented foods can provide the right conditions for spores to grow and make botulinum toxin
Clostridium botulinum: pathogenesis: target cells, mechanism, effect
Target cells: cholinergic cells (neuromuscular junction)
Mechanism: blocks presynaptic release of acetylcholine
Effect: flaccid paralysis
Clostridium botulinum: clinical signs
-affects peripheral nerves, flaccid paralysis throughout several body areas
C. botulinum: diagnostic and treatment
- Clinical suspicion: flaccid paralysis
- Toxin test (mouse > ELISA)
- PCR for toxin-genes in enrichment cultures
==> Only suggestive (can be false positive)
Botulinum toxin causes a “wasp-waist” (diaphragmatic paralysis) in mice (highly sensitive test)
categories of diseases caused by claustridia
- Enterotoxic, Histotoxic, Neurotoxic
Histotoxic clostridia: Clostridium chauvoei
- what diseases does it cause? how does it do it? where is it found?
- Agent of “blackleg”
- Acute, infectious, necrotizing myositis in young calves at pasture in summer
- Germination latent spores in the muscle
- Locally necrotizing myositis=>systemic toxemia=> death
- Infectious (farm problem)
- Endemic areas (western Canada, northern Ontario; globally)
Clostridium chauvoei toxin results in:
results in muscle necrosis and hemorrhage