Tetanus in sub-Saharan Africa

Introduction

Briefly introduce your topic

Description of Tetanus

Lineage( abbreviated ) Bacteria; Firmicutes; Clostridia; Clostridiales; Clostridiaceae; Clostridium [1]

Structure and Function

Colstridum tetani are rod shaped bacilli, anaerobic, gram positive bacteria of the Clostridium genus. C. tetani are spore forming bacteria which form spores at their terminal ends, this gives them a tennis like apprearance during sporulation [2]. C.tetani habituate low oxygen places such as soil, and animal instestine.[4] C. tetani are the cause of the disease Tetanus, which is caused by toxigenic species which carry the toxin producing gene on a plasmid. The two species have been found to be most susceptible to Tetanus neurotoxin are horses and humans. Tetanospamin is the toxin produced by these toxigenic species, but non toxic producing species have been found to exist. Most species of C. tetani are motile and form peritrichous flagella, in addition swarming is observed in some species. Other species are not immotile and do not form flagella [2]. C. tetani is not the only species in the Clostridium genus that produces endotoxins which are medically important neurotoxins, notably C. botulinum which produces botulism toxin. [3]

Genome

The genome of toxigenic C.tetani E88 a contains a chromosome with 2,799,250-bp and a 28.6% G+C content. However the plasmid (pE88) containing the toxin gene (tetX) contains 74,082-bp and a much lower 24.5% G+C content. The plasmid also contains the regulator for the toxin gene which shows some homology to the regulator for the botulism toxin gene. Unlike many other enteropathogens the genome of C.Tetani, however has a very stable G+C content and not many transposable elements are found, evidence for lack of lateral transfer and genome stability. The plasmid also contributes other virulence factors, such a gene for collaginase, which may destroy host tissue integrity. The origin of the plasmid containing the toxin gene has yet to be revealed.[4].

Transmission of disease

How is it transmitted? Is there a vector (animal/insect)?

Why is this disease a problem in [name of country]

Do lifestyle/environment/economics/political issues play a role?

What is being done to address this problem

Include anything being done by the local government or groups as well as efforts by non-local groups.

What else could be done to address this problem

Are there solutions that could be successful but haven't been implemented due to political or economic reasons? Are there successful efforts in other countries? Are there reasons why these efforts may or may not be successful in the country you've focused on? etc. etc.

References

[Sample reference] Takai, K., Sugai, A., Itoh, T., and Horikoshi, K. "Palaeococcus ferrophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a barophilic, hyperthermophilic archaeon from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 2000. Volume 50. p. 489-500.

1.) NCBI taxonomy

2.) MD, Samuel Baron. (1996). Medical Microbiology. Galveston: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. ISBN 0-9631172-1-1

3.) A Goonetilleke and J Harris "Clostridial Neurotoxins" J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2004 September; 75(Suppl 3):iii35–iii39.

4.) Holger Brüggemann,* Sebastian Bäumer,* Wolfgang Florian Fricke,* Arnim Wiezer "The genome sequence of CLostridium tetani, the causative agent of tetanus disease".

Edited by Freyr Petursson, Megan Glasheen, Meghan Wu, Chris Fascenda, David Cervantes, Lisa Sugimori, students of Rachel Larsen

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