Tetanus Exam 2

Question 1

Is tetanus contagious?

Answer 1

no

Question 2

What is tetanus characterized by?

Answer 2

rigid (stiff) paralysis

Question 3

When and where was tetanus first described in horses?

Answer 3

over 3000 years ago in Egypt

Question 4

Where can tetanus be found in the world?

Answer 4

everywhere

Question 5

What is one of the oldest diseases recorded in horses?

Answer 5

tetanus

Question 6

What is tetanus caused by?

Answer 6

exotoxins of Clostridium tetani

Question 7

When are the exotoxins released from Clostridium tetani?

Answer 7

while the bacteria is still alive

Question 8

Clostridium tetani

Answer 8

-mobile
-anaerobic
-gram +

Question 9

Where is does tetanus reside?

Answer 9

in soil and isolated from horse feces

Question 10

What are the routes of infection of tetanus?

Answer 10

-puncture wounds contaminated with manure or soil
-contaminated surgical wounds
-injection abscesses
-navel

Question 11

What % of horses with tetanus are causative wounds not found?

Answer 11

15-30%

Question 12

What animal is the most sensitive to the tetanus toxin?

Answer 12

horses

Question 13

How often are humans vaccinated for tetanus?

Answer 13

every 10 years

Question 14

What do humans often get tetanus from?

Answer 14

road rash

Question 15

What two toxins are produced by tetanus?

Answer 15

-tetanolysin (lyses breakdown tissue)
-tetanospasmin

Question 16

How does tetanolysin act?

Answer 16

damages tissue, creating favorable conditions for the anaerobic infection

Question 17

How does tetanospasmin act?

Answer 17

reaches the bloodstream, then goes to the peripheral nerve terminals throughout the body
-binds irreversibly to inhibitory neurons

Question 18

Inhibitory neurons

Answer 18

allows you to reach for a glass of water and inhibits your from knocking it over

Question 19

What is the result of tetanolysin and tetanospasmin?

Answer 19

sustained excitatory discharge of motor neurons (muscle spasms and muscle rigidity)

Question 20

What is required for recovery?

Answer 20

growth of new nerve terminals

Question 21

How long can it take to grow new nerve terminals?

Answer 21

weeks

Question 22

Clinical signs of tetanus

Answer 22

-rigidity of neck and head muscles (lockjaw, inability to eat/drink)
-prolapse of third eyelid
-sawhorse stance (muscles of limbs, trunk and tail are contracting, so spreading everything out)
-recumbency (laying down)
-tonic spasms initiated by external stimuli (sound, light, touch)
-no reflex inhibitory control of movement

Question 23

What environment is best for a horse with tetanus?

Answer 23

a dark, quiet, padded stall

Question 24

Rhabdomyolysis

Answer 24

-symptom of tetanus
-breakdown of muscle, release of myoglobin can cause the kidney to fail

Question 25

What happens when there is no reflex inhibitory control of movement?

Answer 25

flexor and extensor muscles contract simultaneously with full power
-this causes rhabdomyolysis, hemorrhage, tendon avulsion, and fracture of bones

Question 26

What would cause death from tetanus?

Answer 26

respiratory failure
-laryngeal spasm and asphyxia
-contraction of chest wall, diaphragm and abdomen

Question 27

What is a diagnosis of tetanus based off of?

Answer 27

clinical signs and history of poor vaccination

Question 28

Are horses fully aware while having tetanus?

Answer 28

yes

Question 29

What is the first step of treatment?

Answer 29

if a wound is found/seen, clean with hydrogen peroxide

Question 30

What is the second step of treatment?

Answer 30

eliminate the unbound toxin with anti-toxin administration

Question 31

How does the anti-toxin work?

Answer 31

prevents tetanus from binding to neurons

Question 32

What is the third step of treatment?

Answer 32

sedate the horses and give muscle relaxants

Question 33

What is the final (general) step of treatment?

Answer 33

provide general support
-put in sling or flip the horse every few hours
-catheter for emptying bowels
-administering fluids
-eye ointment

Question 34

What is the mortality rate of tetanus?

Answer 34

up to 75%

Question 35

What raises the chances of survival?

Answer 35

if it is detected early

Question 36

What is the tetanus vaccination series?

Answer 36

-2-3 does initial series
-annual booster afterwards

Question 37

When should broodmares be vaccinated?

Answer 37

4-6 weeks pre-partum

Question 38

What should prevention be for injured horses?

Answer 38

-administer anti-toxin and vaccine (in different syringes at different sites on the body-both sides of the neck)