CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI
Introduction
Clostridium tetani is a microorganism that has effected the lives of many people. This bacteria is the cause of the disease many people have come to know as Tetanus. It infects its victims by releasing a toxin in the human body that causes an infection in the nervous system (Hassel, 2013). The first experimentations with Tetanus began in the 1800’s when scientists began infecting animals with samples from infected humans. In 1889, one scientist by the name of Kitasto was able to “isolate the organism from a human victim, show[ing] that it produced disease when injected into animals … and could be neutralized by specific antibodies” (CDC, 2015). Since that time scientists had been working on ways to learn about how Clostridium tetani functions in order prevent Tetanus from being a threat to humans.
Causal Agent
Clostridium tetani falls under the monera family because it is a bacteria. It is characterized as a “slender, gram-positive, anaerobic rod that may develop a …show more content…
Even though, it can arise all around the world, it is most often found in “densely populated regions in hot, damp rich climates with soil rich in organic matter” (CDC, 2015). Its most common area of habitat is in soil. Tetanus is a disease that can be managed and prevented, however there are cases where the disease results with death. Studies have shown that “approximately 10 to 20 percent of reported cases of tetanus are fatal” (Facts, 2012). The population that is more likely to become infected with tetanus or die from the disease are elderly “60 years of age and older and [people] who are diabetic” (Facts, 2012). With the modernized era, vaccines have resulted in the decrease of infection rates and states that “ cases of Tetanus occurring in fully immunized person whose last dose was within the last 10 years are extremely rare” (CDC,
Introduction
Clostridium tetani is a microorganism that has effected the lives of many people. This bacteria is the cause of the disease many people have come to know as Tetanus. It infects its victims by releasing a toxin in the human body that causes an infection in the nervous system (Hassel, 2013). The first experimentations with Tetanus began in the 1800’s when scientists began infecting animals with samples from infected humans. In 1889, one scientist by the name of Kitasto was able to “isolate the organism from a human victim, show[ing] that it produced disease when injected into animals … and could be neutralized by specific antibodies” (CDC, 2015). Since that time scientists had been working on ways to learn about how Clostridium tetani functions in order prevent Tetanus from being a threat to humans.
Causal Agent
Clostridium tetani falls under the monera family because it is a bacteria. It is characterized as a “slender, gram-positive, anaerobic rod that may develop a …show more content…
Even though, it can arise all around the world, it is most often found in “densely populated regions in hot, damp rich climates with soil rich in organic matter” (CDC, 2015). Its most common area of habitat is in soil. Tetanus is a disease that can be managed and prevented, however there are cases where the disease results with death. Studies have shown that “approximately 10 to 20 percent of reported cases of tetanus are fatal” (Facts, 2012). The population that is more likely to become infected with tetanus or die from the disease are elderly “60 years of age and older and [people] who are diabetic” (Facts, 2012). With the modernized era, vaccines have resulted in the decrease of infection rates and states that “ cases of Tetanus occurring in fully immunized person whose last dose was within the last 10 years are extremely rare” (CDC,