Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status
ObjectiveTetanus is a severe neurologic disease caused by Clostridium tetani, resulting in spastic paralysis. Canine tetanus is associated with serious complications such as aspiration and a high mortality rate of up to 50%.Materials and methodsMedical records of all dogs diagnosed with tetanus over...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1249833/full |
| _version_ | 1827775165834985472 |
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| author | Stefanie Dörfelt Christine Mayer Georg Wolf Reinhard K. Straubinger Andrea Fischer Katrin Hartmann Rene Dörfelt |
| author_facet | Stefanie Dörfelt Christine Mayer Georg Wolf Reinhard K. Straubinger Andrea Fischer Katrin Hartmann Rene Dörfelt |
| author_sort | Stefanie Dörfelt |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ObjectiveTetanus is a severe neurologic disease caused by Clostridium tetani, resulting in spastic paralysis. Canine tetanus is associated with serious complications such as aspiration and a high mortality rate of up to 50%.Materials and methodsMedical records of all dogs diagnosed with tetanus over 8 years (2014–2022) were analyzed for severity grade, treatment protocols, nutritional management, and complications, as well as outcome, vaccination, and antibody production in some dogs. No medical records were excluded. Normality was analyzed by the D'Agostino–Pearson test. Parametric, normally distributed data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Non-parametric, non-normally distributed data were presented as median (m) and range (minimum–maximum). The association between tetanus grade, progression of diseases, and duration of hospitalization was analyzed using the t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis test. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsEighteen dogs were identified. Most affected dogs were classified into severity grade II (66.7%, 12 of 18). Clinical signs deteriorated in 55.6% of dogs (10 of 18). A source was identified in 88.9% of dogs (16 of 18). Nine dogs required surgical wound revision. A percutaneous endoscopic gastropexy tube was placed in 83.3% of dogs (15 of 18) for nutritional support. Medical treatment included metronidazole, methocarbamol, and combinations of different sedatives adapted to the patient's requirements. Tetanus antitoxin was used in 72.2% of dogs (13 of 18) without reported adverse events. The survival rate was 88.9% (16 of 18). Complications, such as hypertension, aspiration pneumonia, and laryngeal spasm occurred in 12 of 18 dogs. Median hospitalization time (8 days; range 0–16 days) was associated with the maximum tetanus severity grade (p = 0.022). Rapid eye movement behavior disorder was observed in 72.2% of dogs (13 of 18). In 5 dogs, antibodies were measured after recovery, and in 4 of 5 dogs, no antibodies were detectable despite generalized tetanus disease. Vaccination with tetanus toxoid was performed in five dogs following the disease.ConclusionIn the present study, the mortality rate was lower than previously reported. Tetanus is still a life-threatening disease, but the prognosis may be good if adequate management and monitoring can be ensured. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:47:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4cbc53b715534a28b3a6a722fa677e38 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T13:47:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
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| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-4cbc53b715534a28b3a6a722fa677e382023-11-02T09:58:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692023-11-011010.3389/fvets.2023.12498331249833Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological statusStefanie Dörfelt0Christine Mayer1Georg Wolf2Reinhard K. Straubinger3Andrea Fischer4Katrin Hartmann5Rene Dörfelt6Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyLudwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyLudwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyLudwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyLudwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Small Animal Clinic, Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Munich, GermanyObjectiveTetanus is a severe neurologic disease caused by Clostridium tetani, resulting in spastic paralysis. Canine tetanus is associated with serious complications such as aspiration and a high mortality rate of up to 50%.Materials and methodsMedical records of all dogs diagnosed with tetanus over 8 years (2014–2022) were analyzed for severity grade, treatment protocols, nutritional management, and complications, as well as outcome, vaccination, and antibody production in some dogs. No medical records were excluded. Normality was analyzed by the D'Agostino–Pearson test. Parametric, normally distributed data were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Non-parametric, non-normally distributed data were presented as median (m) and range (minimum–maximum). The association between tetanus grade, progression of diseases, and duration of hospitalization was analyzed using the t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, and Kruskal–Wallis test. A P ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsEighteen dogs were identified. Most affected dogs were classified into severity grade II (66.7%, 12 of 18). Clinical signs deteriorated in 55.6% of dogs (10 of 18). A source was identified in 88.9% of dogs (16 of 18). Nine dogs required surgical wound revision. A percutaneous endoscopic gastropexy tube was placed in 83.3% of dogs (15 of 18) for nutritional support. Medical treatment included metronidazole, methocarbamol, and combinations of different sedatives adapted to the patient's requirements. Tetanus antitoxin was used in 72.2% of dogs (13 of 18) without reported adverse events. The survival rate was 88.9% (16 of 18). Complications, such as hypertension, aspiration pneumonia, and laryngeal spasm occurred in 12 of 18 dogs. Median hospitalization time (8 days; range 0–16 days) was associated with the maximum tetanus severity grade (p = 0.022). Rapid eye movement behavior disorder was observed in 72.2% of dogs (13 of 18). In 5 dogs, antibodies were measured after recovery, and in 4 of 5 dogs, no antibodies were detectable despite generalized tetanus disease. Vaccination with tetanus toxoid was performed in five dogs following the disease.ConclusionIn the present study, the mortality rate was lower than previously reported. Tetanus is still a life-threatening disease, but the prognosis may be good if adequate management and monitoring can be ensured.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1249833/fullClostridium tetanicanineoutcometetanospasmintetanus toxoidtreatment |
| spellingShingle | Stefanie Dörfelt Christine Mayer Georg Wolf Reinhard K. Straubinger Andrea Fischer Katrin Hartmann Rene Dörfelt Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status Frontiers in Veterinary Science Clostridium tetani canine outcome tetanospasmin tetanus toxoid treatment |
| title | Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status |
| title_full | Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status |
| title_fullStr | Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status |
| title_full_unstemmed | Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status |
| title_short | Retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs—Causes, management, complications, and immunological status |
| title_sort | retrospective study of tetanus in 18 dogs causes management complications and immunological status |
| topic | Clostridium tetani canine outcome tetanospasmin tetanus toxoid treatment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1249833/full |
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