Case study: Tetanus (bacteria)

Question 1

identify the pathogen that causes this disease

Answer 1

clostridium tetani

Question 2

What is tetanus?

Answer 2

Tetanus is a disease where an individual experiences muscle spasms in skeletal muscles such as the jaw.

Question 3

how can an individual contract the disease?

Answer 3

the bacteria thrives in an anaerobic environment (no oxygen) and is found commonly in soil and animal manure. The bacteria produces a toxin that affects the nerves cells resulting in muscle contractions, spasms and seizures.

Question 4

list the symptoms

Answer 4

Symptoms:
Stiffness
Jaw cramping (hence for the name “lock jaw”)
Muscular seizures
Changes in blood pressure and heart rate
High temperature

Question 5

how can a person be transmitted from the pathogen?

Answer 5

Transmission: this disease is not contagious but is transmitted through an open wound that is deep enough for tetani spores to germinate and feed off dead tissue.

Question 6

lists some ways the disease can be treated

Answer 6

Treatment:
* Antibiotics to kill bacteria in the wound.
* Surgical exploration and cleaning of the wound.
* Spasms treated with muscle-relaxant drugs.
* The major treatment is the use of tetanus antitoxin.
The “antitoxin” is Tetanus Immune Globulin (TIG).
Basically this is a concentrate of antibodies from a
person (or animal) who has developed immunity to