What are anthrax spores resistant to?
Heat, drying, and many disinfectants
What type of bacteria is Bacillus anthracis?
Gram positive rod
Is anthrax acute or chronic?
Acute
What are the main signs of anthrax?
Sudden death with bloody discharge from orifices, absence of rigor mortis, rapid bloating, dark blood that does not clot
What are the virulence factors of the anthrax toxin?
Protective antigen, edema factor, lethal factor
What is a distinguishing B. anthracis morphology?
Square ends
Is B. anthracis motile?
No
B. anthracis is catalase ___ and oxidase ___
Catalase +
Oxidase -
How do endospores cause acute death?
Fatal septicemia
How do you ddx anthrax from Anaplasma marginale?
Hemoglobinuria present with anthrax
Why should you NOT necropsy a suspect anthrax animal?
Could release spores into the environment
What tissue sample do you need to dx anthrax?
Vitreous humor or blood from an ear scrape
What stain can you run to confirm anthrax?
McFadyean’s methylene blue stain
What BSL level is anthrax?
BSL-3
How do you prevent anthrax?
Vaccinate annually in endemic areas
How do you dispose of an anthrax carcas?
Bury or burn w/o opening or moving the animal
What are the two forms of anthrax disease in humans?
Cutaneous, GI, pulmonary
Which human form of anthrax is more common?
Cutaneous (95%)
What does cutaneous anthrax form in humans?
Black eschar
What is the susceptibility profile of anthrax?
Cattle>sheep>horses>goats>dogs>pigs
What environmental cycle predisposes to anthrax exposure?
Alkaline soil, repeated cycles of flooding and evaporation, warm/drought conditions
Does cutaneous anthrax in humans become systemic?
Rarely
Which human form of anthrax could potentially become systemic and fatal?
GI
What is the most common mode of transmission for anthrax?
Ingestion
Which human anthrax form causes flu-like symptoms that progress to shock and death?
Pulmonary
How do you treat anthrax in humans?
Ciprofloxacin for 60d
Which human form of anthrax is the most deadly?
Pulmonary