Surto de tétano e meningite em caprinos jovens após procedimento de descorna térmica

Abstract

Tetanus is a toxic-infectious disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, which produces the toxin tetanospasmin, responsible for the disease's clinical signs. It has a high mortality rate and usually occurs in isolation, although outbreaks are possible, especially after surgical procedures. Goats are susceptible to the disease, and its occurrence can cause significant losses to goat farming. This study aimed to report an outbreak of tetanus and meningitis in young goats treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Paraíba. Four Saanen goats, approximately one month old, exhibited neurological signs 10 days after thermal dehorning with a hot iron. On the same property, two days after the procedure, a goat lay recumbent, became apathetic, developed nystagmus and died. Two other animals became ill and died, but their deaths occurred approximately five days after the first symptoms. The four animals sent to the hospital had difficulty moving, spasticity in limbs, mandibular trismus, dysphagia, sialorrhea, flag tail, nystagmus and medial strabismus. The treatment consisted of acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg, single application, IV), flunixina meglumina (2.2 mg/kg, IV, SID for three days), benzathine, procaine and potassium benzylpenicillin (40,000 IU/kg, IM, SID for 10 days), aminoglycosides such as dihydrostreptomycin and streptomycin (100 mg/kg, IM, SID for 10 days), antitetanus serum (10,000 IU, IM, single dose), methocarbamol (100 mg/kg, IV, SID for three days) and wound cleaning with hydrogen peroxide, chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine spray. Two goats were euthanized one day after the treatment began due to worsening clinical conditions, while the others remained under therapeutic monitoring. After 13 days of treatment, they were discharged without after effects. This case highlights the possibility of recovery from the disease through treatment protocols described in the literature, combining supportive and pharmacological treatment.