Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

A High-throughput-compatible FRET-based Platform for Identification and Characterization of Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chain Modulators
Published on: December 27, 2013
Characterization of a Highly Toxigenic Clostridium tetani Strain from a Calf's Castration Site
Chie Shitada1,2, Mayu Ohira3, Mika Sekiguchi3
1Toxin and Biologicals Research Laboratory, Kumamoto Health Science University, Izumi-machi 325, Kita-ku, Kumamoto 861-5598, Japan.
Background:
This case report describes a calf that underwent castration at a Japanese livestock farm and subsequently died after developing clinical signs of tetanus, including muscle rigidity and difficulty standing.
Methods:
A postmortem examination was performed, focusing on indurated lesions at the castration site, which were subjected to bacteriological and genetic analyses.
Results:
Clostridium tetani strain OPLHC-2022-Y645 was isolated from the purulent lesion. Whole-genome sequencing revealed a close genetic relationship to strain KHSU-254310-026, which belongs to the high toxin-producing lineage Clade 1-3 previously reported in Japan. Immunoassays demonstrated that OPLHC-2022-Y645 exhibited the highest tetanus toxin production among isolates tested to date.
Conclusions:
Whole-genome sequencing and immunoassay findings suggest that the rapid progression of tetanus in this calf could be associated with the strong toxin-producing capacity of the OPLHC-2022-Y645 strain.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Special Staining Techniques
Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Bacterial Toxins
Diphtheria
Bacterial Gastroenteritis

