Today is our topic of discussion Definition of Anthrax
Definition of Anthrax
Definition:
Anthrax is a disease of domesticated animals that can be transmitted to man caused by spore-bearing bacteria, Bacillus anthracis.
The disease spreads among grazing animals by ingesting spores through contaminated soil. B. anthracis spores are the agents for biological warfare or bioterrorism.
Types:
1. Cutaneous anthrax (Common)
2. Gastrointestinal anthrax valm
3. Inhalational (pulmonary) anthrax – Rare.
Epidemiological feature:
Anthrax was first detected in Bangladesh on August, 2010 in Sirajganj district. All cases detected so far in Bangladesh are of cutaneous variety. During the outbreak and also infrequently, the cases are still reported in the Sirajganj, Meherpur, Pabna, Kushtia, Narayanganj and few other districts.
Agent:
Bacillus anthracis
Reservoir:
spores can remain viable for years in contaminated soil and processed skins of animals.
Mode of transmission:
1. Cutaneous anthrax is introduced through a skin injury, either by spore or bacterium-idin
a) By contact with tissues of infected animals such as cattle, goats & pigs.
b) By contact with contaminated hair, wool hides or products made from them.
c) By contact with soil associated with infected animals.
2. Pulmonary anthrax results: Inhalation of spores of bacteria.
3. Intestinal anthrax: Ingestion of contaminated undercooked meat.
Incubation period:
2 to 5 days (within 7 days)
Period of communicability:
Articles and soil contaminated with spores remain infective for years.
Fig: Photo of anthrax
Clinical features:
Anthrax is a notifiabble disease and treatment should start after suspicion of the disease-
Cutaneous anthrax:
Characterized by necrotic skin ulcer, also called malignant pustule.
Inhalational or pulmonary anthrax:
Characterized by fever, dyspnoea, cough, headache and symptoms of septicaemia.
Intestinal anthrax:
Charaterized by nausea, vomiting, anorexia and fever. After 2-3 days severe abdominal pain and bloody diarrhoea. Toxaemia and death can develop rapidly thereafter.
Case definition by IEDCR:
A case of Cutaneous Anthrax is defined as any person with acute onset of skin lesions ranging from papule, vesicle, ulceration or formation of central black eschar surrounded by inflammatory oedema along with history of handling sick or dead animals (e. g. cow, ox, sheep, goat) or meat of sick slaughtered animal within last 3 weeks
Management:
Confirmation:
Culture from lesional skin swab.
Antibiotic therapy (any one):
For adults (dose adjusted for children according to body weight) –
a. Tablet Ciprofloxacin (500 mg) taken orally twice daily for 10 days, or do y(
b. Cap. Doxycycline (100 mg) taken orally twice daily for 10 days, or
c. Tablet Penicillin V (500 mg) taken orally every 6 hours for 10 days.
Preventive & control measures:
1. Immunise high risk persons & mass vaccination of cattle. avah 2 at £.bolag neitsdaal
2. Educate people about handling of potentially infected articles and care of skin abrasions.
3. Sterilise hair, wool or hides, bone meal or other feed of animal origin prior to processing.
4. If anthrax occurs on a dairy farm, the factory is advised to suspend collection of milk until the
5. If an animal anthrax case is confirmed, the affected property is quarantined, potentially case is investigated.
exposed stock vaccinated, dead animals buried and contaminated sites disinfected.
6. Isolation of human cases is not required and there are no quarantine requirements as human to
human transmission has not been documented.
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