What type of spores are produced by Clostridium tetani?

Clostridium tetani produces terminal "lollipop" spores, which are characteristic of this bacterium. These spores typically form at one end of the bacterial cell, resembling a lollipop due to the bulging appearance of the spore compared to the cell body. This unique morphology is significant for identification purposes in microbiology, as it helps distinguish Clostridium tetani from other species within the Clostridium genus and other bacterial genera. The term "terminal" indicates that the spores are located at the end of the vegetative cell, a defining feature that aids in recognizing the organism under a microscope, especially when examining stained smears.