There are many diseases on the planet that are notorious since ancient times. If before they did not know the causes of diseases, then in the age of modern technologies they have been studied, and the most serious measures to neutralize them have been taken. One of such ailments is tetanus bacillus.
What is the causative agent?
Hippocrates also described this unknown disease at that time. Most often, it occurred in men during the fighting, as well as in women after childbirth or miscarriage. Then the origin of the disease was unknown. At the end of the XIX century, it became clear that the culprit was the bacterium.
Tetanus bacillus is a gram-positive obligate-anaerobic spore-forming bacterium. She is the causative agent of a deadly disease - tetanus. For development and successful reproduction, it does not need oxygen at all, it is completely independent of O 2 .
This bacteria:
- very active;
- large;
- rod-shaped;
- its surface is covered with flagella.
The microorganism, due to its ability to create spores, is very resistant to adverse conditions.
Microbe habitat
The most interesting thing is where tetanus stick lives. This is the intestines of humans and various animals. There she multiplies and lives happily. We can say that this microbe is omnipresent. It is found:
- on clothes;
- animal feces;
- in the dust of a house;
- in the ground with organic fertilizers;
- natural reservoirs.
This is a very tenacious microorganism that is able to maintain its activity for almost a century.
Penetration method
At home during cleaning or in the country when landing, there is a good chance of swallowing a tetanus stick with dust. But this will not cause the disease. The fact is that the bacterium is not dangerous when swallowed, in contact with human mucous membranes. It is resistant to hydrochloric acid in the stomach, as well as to enzymes, but is completely unable to be absorbed into the intestines.
A harmful microbe enters the body and begins its violent activity through damage of any kind:
- cuts;
- pressure sores;
- splinters;
- frostbite;
- burns;
- bites.
Spores of tetanus bacillus can safely move on the legs of known insects - flies and mosquitoes. Especially the microbe loves deep wounds, here the best development conditions are created for it, oxygen does not penetrate into such wounds.
Bacteria features
This organism is widespread throughout the earth: in some places it is slightly larger, and in others less. In large doses, it is seen in soil with a warm and humid climate.
Vegetative forms of tetanus bacillus are unstable to chemicals and temperatures. The death of microbes begins at a temperature of 70 degrees after only 30 minutes, but they quickly neutralize when exposed to disinfectants. In direct sunlight, after five days, the microorganism dies, and with diffused light, it will take more time.
The microbe is very resistant to external influences. For instance:
- He can withstand temperatures up to 90 degrees for up to two hours, and at a temperature of 115 degrees, he dies only after 20 minutes.
- When boiling, the liquid is destroyed after 1-3 hours, heating in a dry state transfers up to 150 degrees.
- Salt seawater does not interfere perfectly live for 6 months.
- The bacterium is insensitive to low temperatures. For years, stored at 40-60 degrees below zero.
- Successfully stained with aniline dyes.
Tetanus bacillus lives on various objects of the external environment; it has been stored in the soil for decades.
Spores begin their activity at a temperature exceeding the mark of 37 degrees, but at the same time there should be good humidity and lack of oxygen.
Method and mechanism for the development of the disease
Tetanus bacillus itself is a harmless bacterium. But it produces strong biological poison, it is called a tetanus toxin; it is second only to botulism in terms of its toxic effect.
Tetanus toxin includes:
- Thetanospasmin, which adversely affects the nervous system and causes painful cramps.
- Tetanohemolysin, which provokes the destruction of red blood cells in the blood.
Such poison enters the brain and spinal cord through the circulatory system and nerve channels. There is a blockage of the cells of the nervous system, which are responsible for containing muscle contraction. When tetanus bacillus is affected by a toxin, motor impulses from the brain continuously enter the muscle fibers of the body, and they begin to contract strongly, intermittently and uncoordinatedly. This exhausts the patient very much and leaves him practically without strength.
The duration of muscle tissue cramps is large, while all the muscles of the body work:
- heart
- the spine;
- persons;
- larynx;
- limbs.
The bacterial poison disrupts the metabolism of biologically active substances in the brain, causing severe damage to the respiratory center and other structures that are important for existence.
Risk group
Most often, people who have personal plots or gardens are at risk of contracting tetanus. Constant contact with soil, often fertilized with manure, increases the chance of infection. Any deep wound can contribute to the development of the disease.
Also at risk are children. With their restless lifestyle, frequent injuries, wounds, abrasions, which are unlikely to be processed correctly and on time, become an excellent habitat and propagation of the stick.
Doctors most often note a group of middle-aged people whose vaccination has expired long ago and haven’t had time to get vaccinated.
After tetanus, immunity does not form, therefore, every 10 years, you should definitely be vaccinated throughout your life.
Under these conditions, people will be fully protected from exposure to tetanus toxins.