"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
Janet Baraclough writes:
|
| My understanding is that tetanus does not reproduce in the
intestine of
| mammals, but infects them, and produces spores as the dead body
decomposes.
| That source dried up over a century back.
|
| http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000432/ also disagrees
with you
|
| "Tetanus
|
| Infection with Clostridium tetani, a spore-forming Gram-positive
| obligate anaerobe. Spores are found in virtually all soil,
particularly
| soil rich in manure, but also in house dust and both animal and
human
| faeces. "

No, it doesn't. It says that the spores are found in those
locations,
and NOT that it reproduces in those locations.

Since the spores are still in the UK (as they are worldwide), it is
immaterial whether the spores reproduce in the gut of mammals or not.

The most likely source of infection for gardeners would in all
likelihood be from a wound sustained whilst gardening and such a wound
could give acess to the spores. I doubt whether too many gardeners
ingest a lot of soil and so don't need to worry about the reproduction
or otherwise of tetanus spores in their gut..