Tetanus in the equine species: a retrospective study of 31 cases.
BACKGROUND
Few studies exist about factors affecting the outcome of horses with tetanus.


METHODS
31 equids (30 horses and 1 donkey) with a clinical diagnosis of tetanus admitted to the Equine Clinic of the University of Liege between 1991 and 2006. The cases were divided into two groups according to the outcome (survivors and non-survivors).


METHODS
The clinical data of survivors and non-survivors were compared using an ANOVA (continuous data) or a Fisher's test (discrete data).


RESULTS
The survival rate was 32%. Most animals were 5 years or younger, and none had been appropriately vaccinated. The non-survivors were significantly younger than the survivors. The development of dyspnoea, recumbency, and the combination of dysphagia, dyspnoea, and recumbency was observed significantly more in the non-survivors than in the survivors. The timing of tetanus antitoxin administration (either immediately after the onset of suggestive signs or after a delay) was not different between the two groups. The time between the occurrence of a wound and the first signs ranged from 2 days to 2 months and was not significantly different between groups. All non-survivors died within 8 days of the first signs.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that young animals are affected more often and more severely by tetanus than older animals. Dyspnoea, recumbency, and the combination of dysphagia, dyspnoea, and recumbency can be considered as indicators of a poor prognosis in equids suffering from tetanus.
van Galen
G
G
Equine clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Belgium. gvangalen@ulg.ac.be
Delguste
C
C
Sandersen
C
C
Verwilghen
D
D
Grulke
S
S
Amory
H
H
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013742:Tetanus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013743:Tetanus Antitoxin