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Tetanus in the equine species: a retrospective study of 31 cases.
Abstract: Few studies exist about factors affecting the outcome of horses with tetanus. Methods: 31 equids (30 horses and 1 donkey) with a clinical diagnosis of tetanus admitted to the Equine Clinic of the University of Liege between 1991 and 2006. The cases were divided into two groups according to the outcome (survivors and non-survivors). Methods: The clinical data of survivors and non-survivors were compared using an ANOVA (continuous data) or a Fisher's test (discrete data). Results: The survival rate was 32%. Most animals were 5 years or younger, and none had been appropriately vaccinated. The non-survivors were significantly younger than the survivors. The development of dyspnoea, recumbency, and the combination of dysphagia, dyspnoea, and recumbency was observed significantly more in the non-survivors than in the survivors. The timing of tetanus antitoxin administration (either immediately after the onset of suggestive signs or after a delay) was not different between the two groups. The time between the occurrence of a wound and the first signs ranged from 2 days to 2 months and was not significantly different between groups. All non-survivors died within 8 days of the first signs. Conclusions: This study suggests that young animals are affected more often and more severely by tetanus than older animals. Dyspnoea, recumbency, and the combination of dysphagia, dyspnoea, and recumbency can be considered as indicators of a poor prognosis in equids suffering from tetanus.
Publication Date: 2008-07-12 PubMed ID: 18615902 The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article is a look back at 31 cases of tetanus in horses to identify potential factors that may affect the health outcome of the animals. The results suggest that younger animals are more severely affected and that certain symptoms, such as difficulty breathing and lying down, can indicate a more severe prognosis.
Research Background and Methods
- The research is a retrospective study, meaning it looks at past cases, specifically those of horses and one donkey diagnosed with tetanus.
- This took place at the University of Liege’s Equine Clinic from 1991 to 2006.
- The study divided the 31 cases into two groups, survivors and non-survivors, and compared the clinical data of both groups. Continuous data was evaluated with an Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), while discrete data was analyzed using a Fisher’s test.
Research Findings
- The survival rate among the studied animals was 32%.
- Most of the animals were 5 years old or younger and had not received proper vaccination.
- Non-surviving animals were found to be significantly younger than those who survived.
- Certain symptoms, including difficulties in breathing (dyspnoea), inability to stand (recumbency), and a combination of dyspnoea, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) and recumbency, appeared more often in non-survivors.
- No significant difference was observed in terms of when tetanus antitoxin was administered — immediately after the onset of symptoms or after a delay.
- There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the time between the initiating wound and the first signs of tetanus, which ranged from 2 days to 2 months.
- All of the non-surviving animals died within 8 days of the first sign of tetanus.
Research Conclusions
- The study concludes that tetanus affects younger animals more often and more severely.
- The conditions dyspnoea, recumbency, and a combination of dysphagia, dyspnoea and recumbency can be taken as indicators of a poor prognosis in animals suffering from tetanus.
Cite This Article
APA
van Galen G, Delguste C, Sandersen C, Verwilghen D, Grulke S, Amory H.
(2008).
Tetanus in the equine species: a retrospective study of 31 cases.
Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 133(12), 512-517.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium. gvangalen@ulg.ac.be
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Equidae
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Netherlands / epidemiology
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Severity of Illness Index
- Statistics, Nonparametric
- Survival Analysis
- Tetanus / drug therapy
- Tetanus / mortality
- Tetanus / pathology
- Tetanus / veterinary
- Tetanus Antitoxin / therapeutic use
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
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