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Pathogen Page

Clostridium tetani

I. General Information

1. NCBI Taxonomy ID:

2. Disease:

Tetanus

3. Introduction

Clostridium tetani is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, anaerobic bacterium of the genus Clostridium. C. tetani is found as spores in soil or as parasites in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. C. tetani produces the toxin tetanospasmin and is the causative agent of tetanus. Tetanus can be prevented by immunization with tetanal toxoid and appropriate wound care. Specific therapy includes intramuscular administration of tetanus immunoglobulin to neutralize circulating toxin before it binds to neuronal cell membranes (Brook, 2008).

4. Microbial Pathogenesis

C. tetani typically enters a host through a wound. C. tetani produces two exotoxins, tetanolysin and tetanospasmin. Eleven strains of C. tetani have been identified, which differ primarily in flagellar antigens and in its ability to produce tetanospasmin. All toxigenic strains contain a plasmid that produces identical toxins. Tetanospasmin is a neurotoxin, one of the most potent toxins known. Tetanospasmin causes the clinical manifestations of tetanus. Tetanospasmin is distributed in the blood and lymphatic system. The toxin enters the nerve axon, transports across synaptic junctions, and finally reaches the central nervous system. It is then rapidly fixed to gangliosides at the presynaptic junctions of inhibitory motor nerve endings. The tetanus toxin blocks inhibitory impulses by interfering with the release of neurotransmitters, including glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid. The clinical manifestations of tetanus include unopposed muscle contraction and spasm (Brook, 2008).

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