DISEASE
From page 39
conjunction with tetanus
antitoxin injections. However
of infection is castration.
An infected pig is hypersensi- mortality rates amongst farm
animals with tetanus are very
tive, sometimes convulsive,
high.
shows stiffness of legs and
Fortunately there is a vaccine
muscles, an erect tail and
that helps to prevent tetanus.
muscular spasms of the ears
Animals which are vaccinated
and face.
In the case of cattle, infection for the first time at the age of
might occur during castration three months or older should
receive two inoculations at an
or dehorning. Stiffness and
interval of four to six weeks.
reluctance to move are
normally the first signs. There Thereafter they are inoculated
only once a year to maintain
might be twitching and
immunity.
tremors of the muscles,
To protect animals younger
lockjaw, prominent protrud-
ing third eyelid and unsteady than three months at the time
of docking, castration and
gait with stiff held out tail.
possible navel infection after
Affected cattle are usually
anxious and easily excited by birth, the dam should be
inoculated for the first time at
sudden movements or
six weeks and again at two
handling.
weeks before parturition, and
If diagnosed early, treatment
thereafter only once annually
is aimed at destroying the
bacteria so that no more toxin two to four weeks before the
is produced, and reducing the young are born. In this
manner the young obtain
effects of the toxin that has
colostral immunity which will
already been produced.
protect them for a period of
Large doses of antibiotics,
usually penicillin, are used in eight to ten weeks. At the age
of three
months
they can
be
inoculated
as
described.
Horses are
injected
intramuscu-
larly and
Mortality due to tetanus
other
are danger free. Any seasoned
animals subcutaneously.
smallholder can tell you that
There are also preventative
they have lived on the same
measures that one can take
plot for years and will still find
against tetanus infection.
bits of wire and inexplicable
Ensure that fence posts and
pieces of rusty metal in their
gates are rust-free and
fields. Some of us also suffer
painted. Check fences
regularly for broken wires that thoughtless neighbours or
passers-by who toss all
might scratch an animal or
manner of rubbish over our
human.
fences.
Do not leave gardening
implements, particularly forks For treatment of humans
against tetanus, you need to
or rakes, lying around where
consider it if the wound is
a person or animal might
deep or it contains dirt or a
stand on them.
foreign object. Risk of tetanus
Constantly check fields for
from a bite from an animal
pieces of wire, nails or tins.
Never assume that your fields
40
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Continued on page 41