A rhesus monkey manifested typical clinical symptoms of tetanus. Culture of the necrotic tissue of its wound revealed spores situated at the extreme ends of anaerobic bacilli with a characteristic drum-stick appearance. These organisms were identified as of
Clostridium tetani from their growth on TGC medium and behaviors in sugar decomp osition. A positive diagnosis of tetanus was made on the monkey after experiment on laboratory animals.
Clinical observation revealed the following characteristics in the course of disease of the monkey.
1. Body temperature was maintained at a level of about 38°C up to one day prior to death, when it was lowered. The animal fell into collapse at the final stage of disease. No rise in body temperature occurred after death.
2. Dyspnea became serious in accordance with the progress in the course of disease, suggesting an increase in anoxia in the brain.
3. Leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, showed a marked increase in number. Hemolysis had not been noticed, however, until the animal. died.
4. Histopathologically, nonpurulent inflammation of the brain and intensive venous hyperemia in the circulatory system accompanied by tissular edema were observed. These changes seemed to be secondary pathological one in the case of tetanus.
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