Clostridium tetani
Causes tetanus also known as lockjaw in humans. The spores may be obtained from a contaminated puncture. Spores germinate in anaerobic environments, and the bacteria release tetanospasmin in tissues. The exotoxin causes nervous system abnormalities, constant skeletal muscle contraction, and may lead to respiratory failure.

Way to prevent disease: immunization

Laboratory Results: Motile, Terminal spores, Non-aerotolerant

Clostridium botulinum
Causes botulism food poisoning. Air born spores infect food before canning or jarring, and the spores germinate in the canned anaerobic environment. Honey is the most common infective food source for children; however, juvenile botulism is not as deadly. Symptoms include muscular paralysis and blurred vision.

Treatment: anti-toxin

Laboratory Results: Motile, No terminal spores, Non-aerotolerant, Lipase (+)

Clostridium perfringens
Contracted from dirt through large cuts and wounds, the bacterium releases a necrosis-causing toxin. Producing a gas that deforms the infected tissue, the infectious agent causes host to experience severe diarrhea.

Treatment: Penicillin G and antitoxin

Laboratory Results: Motile, No terminal spores, Non-aerotolerant, Possess double-zone hemolysis

Clostridium difficile
The bacterium may be found as natural intestinal flora. Infection occurs through usage of broad-spectrum antibiotics that kill other natural intestinal flora, allowing C. difficile to proliferate and infect the large intestine. The bacterium releases two enterotoxins that harm the intestinal lining and cause diarrhea.

Treatment: oral vancomycin

Laboratory Results: Motility, No terminal spores, Non-aerotolerant

Bacillus anthracis
Found in soil, infection may occur through contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products, or air-born spores. Inside the body, anthrax spores grow at an exponential rate and release an immunosuppressive toxin. Anthrax targets three areas: skin, intestines, and lungs. Symptoms of skin infections commence with an itchy bump the size of a small bug bite that grows to form a liquid-filled sac in a one or two day period. The sac transforms in to an ulcer with a center consisting of black necrotic tissue. Symptoms of intestinal infections include nausea, lack of appetite, and vomiting. As the infection persists, symptoms worsen to consist of severe abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea. Symptoms of inhaled anthrax resemble flu-like symptoms that become more severe and consist of respiratory difficulty and shock.


"Bacillus anthracis" (8)

Treatment: dioxycyclin and ciprofloxacin
**Anthrax vaccine is not recommended or available to the public. New treatments and vaccines are under development**

Chances of survival:

Skin infections: kill 20% of infected people

Intestinal infections: kill 25-60% of infected people

Inhaled infections: often fatal

Information obtained from:
http://medic.med.uth.tmc.edu/path/00001496.htm