Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021)
Tetanus is a distressing and often fatal disease caused by exotoxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and domestic animals, and its spores are highly resistant to environmental changes, acid, and alkali and may pe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sociedade de Medicina Veterinária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://bjvm.org.br/BJVM/article/view/1233 |
| _version_ | 1797831811727884288 |
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| author | Ubiratan Pereira de Melo Cintia Ferreira |
| author_facet | Ubiratan Pereira de Melo Cintia Ferreira |
| author_sort | Ubiratan Pereira de Melo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Tetanus is a distressing and often fatal disease caused by exotoxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and domestic animals, and its spores are highly resistant to environmental changes, acid, and alkali and may persist in the soil for many years. The disease is characterized by generalized muscular rigidity and spasms, hyperesthesia, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death. Horses are the most susceptible domestic animals. Treatment is typically directed towards elimination of the source of the toxin, neutralization of any unbound toxin, establishment of antitoxin immunity, control of neuromuscular derangements, and relief of pain. This study described the clinical findings and therapeutic protocols of 17 horses with tetanus, treated between March 2012 and December 2021. The diagnosis of tetanus was based on the history and clinical examination findings of the animals. All horses received a treatment pattern composed of the administration of tetanus serum (50,000 UI, intravenously, followed by three injections of the same dose at 48-h intervals), procaine penicillin (25,000 UI kg, intramuscularly, BID, for 10 days), and muscle relaxant (acepromazine 0.02–0.05 mg/kg, intramuscularly, BID, for 8 days). Support therapy based on hydroelectrolytic replacements, feeding via a nasogastric tube, and assistance in the maintenance of the quadrupedal position were performed when needed. The mortality rate observed in this report was 23.52%. Early diagnosis associated with the instituted treatment contributed the most to the animal recovery. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:57:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-544fa2dd5bb54a2fa990b860b9a7f8ba |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0100-2430 2527-2179 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T13:57:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | Sociedade de Medicina Veterinária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-544fa2dd5bb54a2fa990b860b9a7f8ba2023-05-07T12:41:28ZengSociedade de Medicina Veterinária do Estado do Rio de JaneiroBrazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine0100-24302527-21792022-04-0144e005321e00532110.29374/2527-2179.bjvm0053211104Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021)Ubiratan Pereira de Melo0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1253-2720Cintia Ferreira1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2473-1580Veterinarian, DSc. Centro Universitário Uninassau. Campus Natal, RN. Brazil.Veterinarian, DSc. Centro Universitário Uninassau. Campus Natal, RN. BrazilTetanus is a distressing and often fatal disease caused by exotoxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. Clostridium tetani is a commensal of the gastrointestinal tract of humans and domestic animals, and its spores are highly resistant to environmental changes, acid, and alkali and may persist in the soil for many years. The disease is characterized by generalized muscular rigidity and spasms, hyperesthesia, convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death. Horses are the most susceptible domestic animals. Treatment is typically directed towards elimination of the source of the toxin, neutralization of any unbound toxin, establishment of antitoxin immunity, control of neuromuscular derangements, and relief of pain. This study described the clinical findings and therapeutic protocols of 17 horses with tetanus, treated between March 2012 and December 2021. The diagnosis of tetanus was based on the history and clinical examination findings of the animals. All horses received a treatment pattern composed of the administration of tetanus serum (50,000 UI, intravenously, followed by three injections of the same dose at 48-h intervals), procaine penicillin (25,000 UI kg, intramuscularly, BID, for 10 days), and muscle relaxant (acepromazine 0.02–0.05 mg/kg, intramuscularly, BID, for 8 days). Support therapy based on hydroelectrolytic replacements, feeding via a nasogastric tube, and assistance in the maintenance of the quadrupedal position were performed when needed. The mortality rate observed in this report was 23.52%. Early diagnosis associated with the instituted treatment contributed the most to the animal recovery.https://bjvm.org.br/BJVM/article/view/1233clostridium tetani, hyperesthesia, tetanus antitoxin, tetanospasmin. |
| spellingShingle | Ubiratan Pereira de Melo Cintia Ferreira Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Medicine clostridium tetani, hyperesthesia, tetanus antitoxin, tetanospasmin. |
| title | Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) |
| title_full | Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) |
| title_fullStr | Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) |
| title_short | Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012–2021) |
| title_sort | clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses 2012 2021 |
| topic | clostridium tetani, hyperesthesia, tetanus antitoxin, tetanospasmin. |
| url | https://bjvm.org.br/BJVM/article/view/1233 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ubiratanpereirademelo clinicalfindingsandresponsetotreatmentof17casesoftetanusinhorses20122021 AT cintiaferreira clinicalfindingsandresponsetotreatmentof17casesoftetanusinhorses20122021 |