CPD Article | EQUINE
adverse effects are uncertain 11 . Currently intravenous
administration of 50 000 IU in early cases is used 4 and
can be repeatedly injected daily, while clinical signs
are present with no adverse effects such as Theiler’s
Disease noted 9 . The poor availability of TAT limits its’
widespread use 9,4 and not all studies 4 indicate that it
may positively influence treatment outcome. In an
unvaccinated horse with a contaminated wound,
TAT can be used prophylactically at the initial
examination 6 as passive immunity is present within 24
hours of administration and remains active for 3 weeks
thereafter 7 .
Prevention
The current vaccines are formalin-inactivated,
adjuvanted toxoids 1 , as the tetanus toxoid is a potent
antigen that rapidly induces a strong serological
response. Therefore vaccination is most often
prophylactic 4 . In an adult horse the recommended
vaccination schedule is as follows: an intramuscular
vaccination with two doses of the tetanus toxoid
administered 3-4 weeks apart and thereafter the horse
is revaccinated annually.
Should the horse sustain a wound, a booster vaccination
should be administered immediately especially if
the horse has not been vaccinated within the last 6
months. All pregnant mares should be vaccinated 4-6
weeks before parturition 5 . As clinical disease does
not result in a sufficient immune response, recovered
horses must be vaccinated 5 once fully recovered.
Serological data indicates an initial 3-dose primary
vaccination series produces a more consistent
response in all foals and therefore foals should be
vaccinated from 4-6 months old with a 4-6 week
interval between the first and second dose with the
final dose administered when foal is 10-12 months
old 1 .
All in-field surgical procedures should be conducted
with the best possible aseptic technique and thereafter
animals should be turned out onto green pastures or at
least clean ground 12 .
Should a horse obtain a wound, the wound should be
treated appropriately as quickly and as effectively as
possible.
REFERENCES
1.
AAEP Tetanus Available online https://aaep.org/guidelines/
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2. Green, S.L. et al (1994) Tetanus in the Horse: A review of
20 cases (1970 -1990) J. of Vet. Int. Med. 8 (2) pp. 128 – 132
Available online http://onlinelibary.wiley.com.ezproxy.liv.ac.uk
[accessed 3 April 2018]
3. Kabura, L. (2006) Intrathecal vs intramuscular administration of
human anti-tetanus immunoglobulin or equine tetanus antitoxin
in the treatment of tetanus: a meta- analysis Tropical Med. &
Int. Health 11(7) pp. 1075 – 1081 Available online http://www.
sciencedirect.com [accessed 3 April 2018]
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2018]
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Veterinary Consult: Equine 2nd Edition, Wiley-Blackwell
publishing
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Edition 2010Saunders Elsevier
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10. Rings, D.M. (2004) Clostridial disease associated with neuro-
logical signs: Tetanus, Botulism and enterotoxamia Vet. Clin.
N.Am: Food An. Prac. 20 (2) pp. 379 – 391 Available online
http://www.sciencedirect.com [accessed on 3 April 2018]
11. Stampfli, HR “Tetanus – lockjaw” Available online https://www.
msdvetmanual.com/generalised-conditions/clostridail-diseases/
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pp. 237 – 240 Available online http://onlinelibary.wiley.com.
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