TETANUS

Question 1

Tetanus also known as

Answer 1

lockjaw

Question 2

Causative agent of Tetanus

Answer 2

Clostridium tetani

Question 3

neurological condition which often presents with muscle stiffness and spasms

Answer 3

Tetanus

Question 4

The most susceptible species to Tetanus are the following

Answer 4

horses, guinea pigs, goats, sheep, mice, monkeys, and humans

Question 5

why cats and dogs are not routinely vaccinated against tetanus?

Answer 5

They are less vulnerable

Question 6

________ are resistant, and ______ are also very resistant to Tetanus

Answer 6

Birds
Cattle

Question 7

Tetanus is caused by the neurotoxin called _______.

Answer 7

tetanospasmin

Question 8

C. tetani spores are present in the environment, particularly in these places

Answer 8

soil, faeces and dust

Question 9

C. tetani sores enter the body through a wound, and under anaerobic conditions they convert into what form?

Answer 9

vegetative form

Question 10

This form of the C. tetani bacterium is responsible in produciy the neurotoxin tetanospasmin

Answer 10

vegetative form

Question 11

The vegetative form of the C. tetani bacterium produces the neurotoxin tetanospasmin which binds to the ________ at the neuromuscular junction and is transported retrograde to the nerve cell body in the central nervous system (CNS).

Answer 11

telodendrion

Question 12

The tetanospasmin reaches the neuromuscular junction directly through the _______ or indirectly through the _________.

Answer 12

wound
bloodstream

Question 13

Once the tetanospasmin is in the CNS, the tetanospasmin prevents the release of __________ from the inhibitory interneurons.

Answer 13

inhibitory neurotransmitters (glycine and GABA)

Question 14

The binding of tetanospasmin to the __________ in the CNS results in irreversible damage to the interneurons

Answer 14

inhibitory interneurons

Question 15

why recovery from tetanus is slow

Answer 15

Recovery requires the generation of new nerve terminals

Question 16

In the case of tetanus, damage to this results in uncontrolled and sustained skeletal muscle contraction.

Answer 16

inhibitory interneurons

Question 17

In the case of tetanus all muscles are affected, but the main clinical signs are: (ENUMERATE)

Answer 17

extensor muscle rigidity and trismus (locked jaw)

Question 18

how long before signs of tetanus become apparent in cats

Answer 18

up to three weeks

Question 19

a type of tetanus in which only a focal group muscles, such as those in a limb or the head, is affected

Answer 19

Localised tetanus

Question 20

a type of tetanus in which the entire body is affected

Answer 20

generalised tetanus

Question 21

what muscles are often the first muscles to be affected by tetanus

Answer 21

facial muscles

Question 22

Why is the facial muscles are often some of the first muscles to be affected?

Answer 22

the relatively short cranial nerves compared to the longer nerves that innervate the limb muscles

Question 23

which comprises narrowed palpebral fissures, drawing back of the lip, wrinkling of the forehead and the tips of the ears being pulled towards each other due to tetanus

Answer 23

risus sardonicus (“rictus grin”)

Question 24

are a result of contraction of the third eyelid due to tetanus

Answer 24

Enophthalmos and protrusion of the third eyelids

Question 25

If the patient remains ambulatory, they develop a stiff and stilted gait with a wide-based stance and the tail curved dorsally. What condition?

Answer 25

Tetanus

Question 26

If the patient is recumbent, severe extensor muscle rigidity is present. This rigidity often gets worse with stimulation (tactile or auditory) and sometimes results in severe muscle tetany and opisthotonus. What condition?

Answer 26

Tetanus

Question 27

In the case of tetanus, this condition is painful and can cause life-threatening hyperthermia.

Answer 27

Muscle tetany

Question 28

There is an increased urethral and anal sphincter tone can cause urine retention and constipation. Although rare, laryngeal spasm can occur and result in respiratory failure. What condition?

Answer 28

Tetanus

Question 29

In patients with tetanus, parasympathetic hyperactivity occurs more frequently than sympathetic signs. Signs of parasympathetic overactivity are bradycardia and hypotension, while signs of sympathetic overactivity are tachycardia and hypertension.

Question 30

Diagnosis of tetanus is based on the typical clinical signs. The history of a wound supports the diagnosis, but a wound is not always present.

Question 31

is most often used as antitoxin against C. tetani tetanospasmin

Answer 31

anti-tetanus equine serum

Question 32

In the case of tetanus, it is important to administer the antitoxin before wound debridement as more toxins will be released into the circulation during wound debridement.

Question 33

The recommended dose of anti-tetanus equine serum

Answer 33

100 to 1,000 units/kg, with a maximum of 20,000 units

Question 34

Preferably, the antitoxin for tetanus should be given as a bolus intravenously over how many minutes?

Answer 34

30 minutes

Question 35

In the case of Tetanus, when administering anti-toxin, anaphylactic shock is a risk, it is recommended to give a small amount (0.1 to 0.2ml) subcutaneously first. If there is no reaction after 30 minutes, the full dose can be given intravenously.

Question 36

is the antibiotic of choice for tetanus patients

Answer 36

Metronidazole

Question 37

Possible alternative antibiotics for tetanus patients are:

Answer 37

erythromycin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, clindamycin and amoxi-clav

Question 38

In case of tetanus, this antiseptic is recommended to flush the wound

Answer 38

Hydrogen peroxide

Question 39

Patients should be kept in a dark and quiet environment to reduce the risk of muscle tetany – earplugs can be used to reduce auditory stimuli. What condition?

Answer 39

Tetanus

Question 40

Severe cases of Tetanus can be recumbent for how long?

Answer 40

2-3 weeks

Question 41

* Patients with urinary or fecal retention will need bladder catheterization or an enema, respectively. This clinical signs is caused by what condition?

Answer 41

Tetanus

Question 42

This drug is a good first-choice sedation for Tetanus-infected animal

Answer 42

Acepromazine

Question 43

To reduce muscle stiffness or to treat more severe tetany, muscle relaxants can be used such as:

Answer 43

midazolam or diazepam

Question 44

* In severe cases which are refractory to the classic combination of acepromazine and benzodiazepines, a constant rate infusion of the following drugs can be considered

Answer 44

medetomidine, pentobarbital or propofol