Clostridium tetani is the bacteria responsible for the often fatal disease tetanus. The word tetanus comes from the Greek word tetanos which means to ‘stretch’. Tetanus is characterized by rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscle. It wasn’t until 1884 that the cause of the disease was discovered by Carle and Rattone. In 1889, Kitasato (one of Koch’s pupil) isolated the organism and showed that it produced disease when injected into animals.
Spores of C. tetani are everywhere and are found in soil, dust, animal intestines, and animal feces (including humans). Its occurrence is worldwide but is most commonly found in dense populated regions in hot, damp climates with soil rich in organic matter.
Transmission is primarily by contaminated wounds. The typical example is stepping on a rusty nail. Tetanus is not contagious from person to person but is infectious as acquired through environmental exposure. Only vaccine-preventable disease that is infectious but not contagious.
Source : web.uconn.edu
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