IntroductionClostridium tetani more commonly known as tetanus is an acute infectious disease. Tetanus is not contagious and is a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium tetani. It is characterized by muscle spasms that mainly involve voluntary muscle groups. Tetanus can affect horses, goats, pigs, cats, dogs, sheep, cattle and many other domestic animals. In cattle the disease is relatively rare, but in some cases it can spread within the herd causing significant economic losses. Clostridium tetani is a gram-positive anaerobic bacterium found in the soil, in the intestines of many animals and therefore also occurs naturally in the feces of most animals. Tetanus is more common during the warmer months and less common during the colder months, when the ground is frozen. Tetanus enters the body through a wound, most commonly in cattle through a castration site or umbilical location of a newborn calf. HistoryTetanus is one of the first recognized diseases and was known and described by Hippocrates in the 6th century BC (Gibbons et. al, 1970) In 1844 scientists succeeded in producing tetanus in a rabbit. They had taken material from a human who had died of the disease and injected it into the rabbit. (Jensen et. al, 1973) Soon after the disease appeared in guinea pigs, mice and rats, this was achieved by inoculating them with garden soil. (Gibbons et. al, 1970) It was not until 1889 that Clostridium tetani was cultivated. Etiology Clostridium tetani is a gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium that has poor motility and ability to bear spores. The spores are highly resistant to heat, light and drying and can survive in soil and feces for months or years. When the spores can come into direct contact with the skin. Vaccines that protect against Clostridium tetani are also available. Treatment Without treatment affected livestock can die within three to ten days and even then the mortality rate is sixty percent. In order to treat these animals it is necessary to reassure them. Penicillin or another antibiotic must be administered to stop bacterial multiplication and toxin production. (Thomas et. al, 2009) Since the animals' muscles will be in spasm and very stiff and they will not be able to eat or drink, treatment must also include means of supportive therapy. This can be accomplished by giving fluids intravenously or by force-feeding through a gavage. Supportive treatment should be maintained until signs of muscle spasms subside and the animal regains control of its body. This may take one to four weeks. (Thomas et al, 2009)