TETANUS IN A SURGICALLY CASTRATED BEETAL BUCK: A CASE REPORT

Tetanus is a fetal disease of human and animals caused by spore forming, Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium Clostridium tetani. In present report, a 16-month old, Beetal buck, weighing about 40 kg was presented to outdoor clinics of Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan with complaint of anorexia, abnormal gait and gradual loss of body condition. History, indicated that animal was castrated 12 days before by a local quack using an ordinary shaving blade. Visual examination revealed that wound had not properly healed on the day of examination. Physical examination revealed stiffness of fore and hind limb muscles, prolapse of nictitating membrane and hyperesthesia. Owing to the presence of contaminated wound and clinical signs, Beetal Buck was diagnosed as tetanus. Animal was treated with procaine penicillin @ 44,000 IU IM/Kg, diazepam @ 0.1mg/kg IM. The treatment was prescribed for five days. Wound was debrided and washed with hydrogen peroxide. On the 3rd day of this treatment, trismus was reduced and the gait of the animal was im proved. All in all, tetanus was present in goats and treatment afforded an improvement in health parameters.