Non-Invasive Clostridia - Exam 2

Question 1

Which neurotransmitter does botulinum toxin block the release of?

Answer 1

Acetylcholine

Question 2

Which neurotransmitter does tetanus toxin block the release of?

Answer 2

GABA and glycine

Question 3

What is the condition of neuroparalytic intoxication characterized by flaccid paralysis?

Answer 3

Botulism

Question 4

Which species is C. botulinum mainly seen in?

Answer 4

Ruminants, horses, mink, and waterfowl

Question 5

How does the botulinum neurotoxin work on nerve cells?

Answer 5

Zinc endopeptidases bind to cholinergic nerve cells, decreases the release of Ach

Question 6

How is C. botulinum transmitted?

Answer 6

When animals die, the spores (common in gut and tissues) germinate and generate toxin, which may be ingested by carrion eaters or contaminated environment

Question 7

What are the clincal signs of botulism?

Answer 7

Muscular incoordination leading to:

Recumbency

Extrusion of the tongue

Disturbances in food prehension, chewing, and swallowing

Question 8

Which types of C. botulinum are found in all soils?

Answer 8

Types A and B

Question 9

Which types of C. botulinum predominate in all animals?

Answer 9

Types C and D

Question 10

What is the source of outbreak of C. botulinum?

Answer 10

Deat cat or rodents in feed

Also chicken manure when used as a cattle feed supplement

Question 11

Which types of C. botulinum are linked to aquatic sediments?

Answer 11

C, D, E, and F

Question 12

Which type of botulinum is associated with tainted meat (milk rances) and contaminated fish food (fish hatcheries)?

Answer 12

Type E

Question 13

What is an initial clinical sign of botulism?

Answer 13

Limberneck

Question 14

Which type of botulinum is linked to phosphorous diet defiencies?

Answer 14

Type D

Question 15

What does the diagnosis of botulism require?

Answer 15

Demonstration of the toxin in the plasma or tissue before death or from a fresh carcass

Question 16

What is the only accepted method of confirmation for diagnosis of botulism?

Answer 16

Toxin is extracted from material and injected into guinea pigs or mice

Question 17

What is the cause of death due to botulism?

Answer 17

Respiratory failure

Question 18

What is the condition of neuroparalytic intoxication charactered by tonic-clonic convulsions?

Answer 18

Tetanus

Question 19

How do animals get tetanus?

Answer 19

Results from inoculation of a traumatic wound with spores

Question 20

Who is susceptible to tetanus?

Answer 20

ALL MAMMALS! but to varying degrees

Horses and humans, ruminants and swine more susceptible than carnivores

Poultry highly resistant

Mortality rate is high

Question 21

How does tetanospasmin (tetanus toxin) work on neurons?

Answer 21

Zinc endopeptisdase binds to neurons, which release GABA and glycine, the major inhibitory neurotransmitters

Question 22

What does tetanus use to hydrolyze docking protein?

Answer 22

Synaptobrevin (VAMP)

Question 23

Why is the tetanus toxin important for vaccines?

Answer 23

It is antigenically uniform!

Question 24

Which type of tetanus is typical of animals not highly susceptible?

Answer 24

Acending tetanus (dogs and cats)

Follow retrograde, intra-axonal transport of toxin

Question 25

Which type of tetanus is typical of highly susceptible species?

Answer 25

Descending tetanus (horses and humans)

Effective toxin quantities are disseminated via vascular channels to nerve ending areas remote from the toxigenic site

Question 26

Are survivors of tetanus susceptible to re-infection?

Answer 26

Yes. Not enough toxin present to induce a strong immune-response (neutralizing antibodies)

Question 27

What does the therapy for tetanus aim at?

Answer 27

Neutralization of circulating toxin

(flushing of hydrogen peroxide to create aerobic conditions)

Life support and symptomatic relief