All of the following statements regarding Clostridium tetani are true, except: (A) Spores are resistant to heat, (B) Primary immunization consists of three doses, (C) Incubation period is 6-10 days, (D) Person to person transmission does not occur
Answer is A. The resistance of tetanus spores to heat appears to be subject to strain differences. Most are killed by boiling for 10-15 mins but some resist boiling for up to 3 hrs. Autoclaving at 121degC for 20 mins ensures complete removal of spores. Reference: Textbook of Microbiology; Anathanarayan and paniker's; 10th edition; Page no: 265