Clostridium Tetani

Clostridium Tetani is a rod shaped bacteria that is found as spores in soil or as parasites in animals. C. Tetani produces biological a biological toxin called tetanospasmin, which causes tetanus. Tetanus is a disease characterized by muscle spasms tetanospasmin, which can lead to respiratory failure and, 40% of the time, death.

Characteristics:
C. Tetani bacteria are rod shaped and look like mini tennis rackets. During their growth process, they cannot survive in the presence of oxygen and are heat-sensitive. As they mature, the bacteria develops ad terminal spore which gives them their characteristic appearance. Their spores are extremely hardy and resistant to heat and most anesthetics. The spores can be found in manure treated soils, human skin, and contaminated heroin.

Toxicity: 
C. Tetani enters through a wound in the skin and then multiplies. Once infected it produces two exotoxins: tetanolysin and tetanospasmin. The tetospasmin is distributed in the blood and lymphatic system. It acts at several sites with in the nervous system: the peripheral nerve terminals, spinal cord, brain, sympathetic nervous system. Then it attaches to gangliosides at the presyneptic junctions of inibitoty more nerve endings. The clinical manifestations are caused when tetanus blocks the inabitory implies, which interferes with the neurotransmitters. This leads to muscle contraction and spasm. Characteristic features are risus sardonicus (rigid smile), trismus (lock-jaw), opisthotonus ( rigid arched back). Seizures may also occur. Because of this, the autonomic nervous system may also be effected.

Types of Tetanus: 
Generalized Tetanus is the most common type of tetanus (80%). The first signs of generalized tetanus are risus sardonics and trismus. Then comes the stiffness of neck, difficulty in swallowing and regidity of pectoral and calf muscles.
Neonatal Tetanus if a form of Generalized Tetanus that occurs in newborns. It accounts for 14% of all neonatal deaths. Infants with out acquired passive immunity because their mothers have never been immunized are at risk. The infants are usually infected though the umbilical stump.
Local Tetanus is very uncommon and is more mild then Generalized Tetanus and only 1% who are infected die. It occurs in contractions of muscles around the area of the injury.
Cephalic Tetanus is a rare form of the disease that occasionally occurs with ear infections. C. Tetani becomes present in the flora, middle of the ear, following injuries to the head.

Image sources:/
www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://farm1.static.flickr.com/205/519944432_858d235bef_m_d.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.microbiologybytes.com/blog/2007/07/20/the-surface-layer-protein-of-clostridium-tetani/&usg=__ispMGGzzsAPI9uBmD75-


www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://phil.cdc.gov/PHIL_Images/20041014/19f02a819c8f4352804bc5abbdd820c0/6374_lores.jpg&imgrefurl=http://prep4md.blogspot.com/2008/08/medically-important-bacteria-images.html&usg


Sources: 
http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2008/unrein_bren/


http://student.ccbcmd.edu/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit1/prostruct/diseases/ctetani/ctetani.html


http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/submenus/sub_tetanus.htm