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.[3] 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. [4]
Transmission of disease
How is it transmitted? Is there a vector (animal/insect)?
Prevention
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
1.) NCBI taxonomy
Edited by Freyr Petursson, Megan Glasheen, Meghan Wu, Chris Fascenda, David Cervantes, Lisa Sugimori, students of Rachel Larsen
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