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Infectious Diseases > Anthrax > Flashcards

Flashcards in Anthrax Deck (27)
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1
Q

What are anthrax spores resistant to?

A

Heat, drying, and many disinfectants

2
Q

What type of bacteria is Bacillus anthracis?

A

Gram positive rod

3
Q

Is anthrax acute or chronic?

A

Acute

4
Q

What are the main signs of anthrax?

A

Sudden death with bloody discharge from orifices, absence of rigor mortis, rapid bloating, dark blood that does not clot

5
Q

What are the virulence factors of the anthrax toxin?

A

Protective antigen, edema factor, lethal factor

6
Q

What is a distinguishing B. anthracis morphology?

A

Square ends

7
Q

Is B. anthracis motile?

A

No

8
Q

B. anthracis is catalase ___ and oxidase ___

A

Catalase +

Oxidase -

9
Q

How do endospores cause acute death?

A

Fatal septicemia

10
Q

How do you ddx anthrax from Anaplasma marginale?

A

Hemoglobinuria present with anthrax

11
Q

Why should you NOT necropsy a suspect anthrax animal?

A

Could release spores into the environment

12
Q

What tissue sample do you need to dx anthrax?

A

Vitreous humor or blood from an ear scrape

13
Q

What stain can you run to confirm anthrax?

A

McFadyean’s methylene blue stain

14
Q

What BSL level is anthrax?

A

BSL-3

15
Q

How do you prevent anthrax?

A

Vaccinate annually in endemic areas

16
Q

How do you dispose of an anthrax carcas?

A

Bury or burn w/o opening or moving the animal

17
Q

What are the two forms of anthrax disease in humans?

A

Cutaneous, GI, pulmonary

18
Q

Which human form of anthrax is more common?

A

Cutaneous (95%)

19
Q

What does cutaneous anthrax form in humans?

A

Black eschar

20
Q

What is the susceptibility profile of anthrax?

A

Cattle>sheep>horses>goats>dogs>pigs

21
Q

What environmental cycle predisposes to anthrax exposure?

A

Alkaline soil, repeated cycles of flooding and evaporation, warm/drought conditions

22
Q

Does cutaneous anthrax in humans become systemic?

A

Rarely

23
Q

Which human form of anthrax could potentially become systemic and fatal?

A

GI

24
Q

What is the most common mode of transmission for anthrax?

A

Ingestion

25
Q

Which human anthrax form causes flu-like symptoms that progress to shock and death?

A

Pulmonary

26
Q

How do you treat anthrax in humans?

A

Ciprofloxacin for 60d

27
Q

Which human form of anthrax is the most deadly?

A

Pulmonary