Clinical findings and response to treatment of 17 cases of tetanus in horses (2012 2021)

Abstract

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.

Survey on sanitary practices and knowledge about infectious diseases among equine owners in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

“…The main infectious diseases ( Figure 2 ) known by the interviewed owners were rabies (90.39%), tetanus (87.74%), glanders (84.10%), equine infectious anemia (79.47%), babesiosis (74.50%), strangles (51.32%), and leptospirosis (50.00%). The main diseases mentioned by owners are those commonly reported in the national literature ( Coelho et al, 2022 ; De Faria et al, 2022 ; Ferreira et al, 2021 ; Melo & Ferreira, 2022b ). However, other diseases for which clinical cases have already been reported in Brazil or antibodies circulating in different regions, such as equine herpes virus ( Estima-Silva et al, 2019 ), equine encephalitis ( Nunes et al, 2021 ; Diniz et al, 2022 ), and West Nile virus, are little known or totally unknown to owners.…”

Assessment of tetanus revaccination regimens in horses not vaccinated in the previous year

“…Horses are considered highly susceptible to tetanus [7]; the main clinical signs in this species are hyperesthesia, trismus, prolapse of the third eyelid, dyspnea, recumbency, and dysphagia [4,11]. Once equine tetanus develops, mortality rates have been reported to be as high as 23.5% (in 17 horses [2]), 68% (in 31 equids, namely 30 horses and 1 donkey [11]), or 75% (in 20 horses [4]).…”

“…Tetanus is a common neurological disease of humans and animals worldwide and is characterized by spastic paralysis [ 2 , 10 , 11 ]. The causative agent is the tetanus neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani, a gram-positive, spore-forming anaerobic bacterium found in soil.…”

“…Horses are considered highly susceptible to tetanus [ 7 ]; the main clinical signs in this species are hyperesthesia, trismus, prolapse of the third eyelid, dyspnea, recumbency, and dysphagia [ 4 , 11 ]. Once equine tetanus develops, mortality rates have been reported to be as high as 23.5% (in 17 horses [ 2 ]), 68% (in 31 equids, namely 30 horses and 1 donkey [ 11 ]), or 75% (in 20 horses [ 4 ]). Vaccination against tetanus can suppress the onset of the disease in most cases; even in horses that have developed the disease, survival rates are high in those that have been vaccinated [ 4 ].…”