What is Anthrax?

Anthrax is primarily an infections bacterial disease of animals, particularly herbivores such as cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and goats where this disease was known to cause uncontrolled mortality at one time.

These animals usually get infected by ingestion of the anthrax spores while grazing on contaminated soil and drinking water.

Human beings get anthrax by direct or indirect contact with diseased animals, handling infected animal products like flesh, bones, hides, eating infected meat and by breathing weaponries anthrax spores. However, the severity of anthrax infection in human beings depends upon many factors such as the route of infection nutritional status of the host and also the virulence of infected strain.

There ate three types of anthrax occurs in human beings

(i) Coetaneous anthrax:

This anthrax is acquired through a skin lesion

(ii) Gastrointestinal anthrax:

This is contracted through ingestion of contaminated meat of infected animals or drinking water containing anthrax spores.

(iii) Pulmonary anthrax:

This is caused by breathing of air containing anthrax spores

Symptoms of Anthrax:

In the first few days of infection, the patient develops influenza like symptoms with fever and mild pain in the chest. But when it gains a firm foothold in the host body, there occurs a massive release of bacterial toxins which causes the lymph nodes to break-down and bleed. This resulted in spreading of infection to the chest. The infected fluids slowly build up in the lungs which caused difficult breathing and high fever and death occurs due to toxin- induced shock.

The control measures for breaking the cycle of anthrax infection include- quick disposal of anthrax carcasses, disinfection and disposal of all contaminated materials and vaccination of exposed susceptible animals and humans. However, the Institute for Genomic Research has deciphered the genome of bacillus anthraces.

This may be helpful for scientist to develop potential new targets for drugs and vaccines against anthrax germ by analyzing the bacterium’s complete genetic make up. Researchers have also identified several genes that might play key roles in anthrax infections. Such genes also might be helpful for developing new treatments. There is also apprehension that anthrax could be a potential weapon for future terrorism.