Question of the Day

Clostridium tetani produces a neurotoxin, tetanospasmin, that blocks the release of the inhibitory neurotransmitters glycine and GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) from presynaptic nerve endings, resulting in spastic paralysis.

The neurotoxin causes severe, sustained, tonic muscle contractions and an exaggerated muscle response to stimuli. Patients typically present with progressive muscle stiffness (“sawhorse stance”), erect ears, risus sardonicus (lips drawn back), trismus, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.

Click here to see a YouTube video of a dog with tetanus.