PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
Tetanus is a toxigenic illness caused by the action of Clostridium tetani neurotoxin (TeNT), which results in partial or generalized muscle stiffness in infected mammals and birds. The disease is rarely reported in cats due to their innate resistance to the toxin. This multicentric retrospective study aimed to describe a significant population of cats with a diagnosis of tetanus and report their signalment, clinical and neurological signs, diagnostic findings, treatment, and outcome. A retrospective search through medical records from 11 referral centers in Europe resulted in the identification of 27 cases of feline tetanus from July 2005 to April 2023. These cases were further compared with previously reported cases in the veterinary literature. Young cats were more commonly represented than older cats, with a median age of 4 years. Clinical signs were initially characterized by a lame and/or stiff limb, near the primary injury site, in 17/26 (65%) cats. Signs were focal or multifocal in 21/27 (78%) cats of this study and one typical sign was the inability to flex the most severely affected limbs. Electrodiagnostic studies revealed characteristic changes, such as continuous spontaneous motor unit discharges in both agonist and antagonist muscles. Such studies are particularly useful in focal and multifocal cases and should be performed to further support the diagnosis. The toxin was successfully identified in one case using the mouse bioassay. Treatment included antibiotherapy (metronidazole) in most cases, muscle relaxants, appropriate nursing cares and handling of potential complications. Overall, the outcome appeared to be positive, with only 1/27 (3.7%) cats being euthanized due to financial restrains. 23/25 (92%) cats returned to an independent ambulatory capacity on all limbs within a median delay of 25 days. Mild to moderate long-term sequelae were reported in eight (30%) cats. This multicentric study is the first to bring together such a large number of cats affected with tetanus. Presentation of the disease in cats differs from that observed in humans and dogs, with most cats being locally affected. Compared to previous reports of tetanus, this series of cats had a better outcome overall, especially for cats affected with generalized tetanus.
摘要：
破伤风是由破伤风梭菌神经毒素（TeNT）的作用引起的毒素性疾病，导致受感染的哺乳动物和鸟类部分或全身肌肉僵硬。由于猫对毒素的先天抵抗力，这种疾病很少在猫中报道。这项多中心回顾性研究旨在描述诊断为破伤风的大量猫并报告其信号。临床和神经体征，诊断结果，治疗,和结果。从2005年7月至2023年4月，对欧洲11个转诊中心的医疗记录进行了回顾性搜索，发现了27例猫破伤风病例。将这些病例与兽医文献中先前报道的病例进行了进一步比较。幼猫比老年猫更常见，平均年龄为4岁。临床体征最初以跛脚和/或僵硬的肢体为特征，靠近主要损伤部位，在17/26（65％）猫中。这项研究的21/27（78％）猫的症状是局灶性或多灶性的，一个典型的症状是无法弯曲受影响最严重的四肢。电诊断研究揭示了特征性变化，例如激动剂和拮抗剂肌肉的连续自发运动单位放电。此类研究在局灶性和多灶性病例中特别有用，应进行以进一步支持诊断。在一种情况下，使用小鼠生物测定法成功鉴定了毒素。在大多数情况下，治疗包括抗生素治疗（甲硝唑），肌肉松弛剂,适当的护理和潜在并发症的处理。总的来说,结果似乎是积极的，只有1/27（3.7％）的猫由于经济限制而被安乐死。23/25（92％）的猫在25天的中位延迟内恢复了所有肢体的独立行走能力。据报道，八只猫（30％）有轻度至中度的长期后遗症。这项多中心研究是第一个将如此大量的破伤风猫聚集在一起的研究。这种疾病在猫中的表现与在人类和狗中观察到的不同，大多数猫在当地受到影响。与以往的破伤风报道相比,这一系列猫总体上有更好的结果，特别是对于患有全身破伤风的猫。
