Original scientific paper

A twenty-year retrospective study of tetanus in horses: 42 cases

Damjan Gračner ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ljubo Barbić ; Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Inga Bijader ; Ljubimac Veterinary Clinic, Zagreb, Croatia
Petra Čolig ; Podravka d.d., Koprivnica, Croatia
Gordana Gregurić Gračner ; Department of Animal Hygiene, Behaviour and Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Jelena Selanec ; Clinic of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Vladimir Stevanović ; Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Samardžija ; Clinic of Obstetric and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The retrospective study included 42 horses affected with tetanus and treated between 1990 and 2009. A total of 34 coldblood horses and 8 warmblood horses were included in the study. The most frequent clinical
signs were rigidity of limb muscles, trismus, and nictitating membrane prolapse. The overall mortality rate was 45.3 % and the mean age of infected animals was 5.8 years. The fi rst 7 days of disease are the most critical period for survival. A more rapid progression and the presence of recumbency and profuse sweating were confirmed as indicators of poor prognosis.

Keywords

horse; tetanus; retrospective study

Hrčak ID:

205782

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/205782

Publication date:

27.5.2015.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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