INTRODUCTION

Bacillus anthraci are the bacterial agents responsible for the disease Anthrax. Bacillus anthracis is a non-motile, aerobic rod with a centrally located spore. They usually occur in long chains. In most virulent forms, the bacteria are usually surrounded by a capsule. (chest online, 1999) Oxygen is required for spore formation, and can commonly be found on the tissues of dead animals. However, it has been known to grow in soil. Spores will almost never be found on living tissue or blood, and they can survive for many years in the harshest conditions.

Bacillus anthracis, secretes a toxin made up of three proteins: protective antigen (PA), oedema factor (OF) and lethal factor (LF). PA binds to cell-surface receptors on the host's cell membranes. After being cleaved by a protease, PA binds to the two toxic enzymes, OF and LF, and mediates their transportation into the cytosol where they exert their pathogenic effects. (nature online, 2001)

THE DISEASE

There are three forms of anthrax: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal (CDC, 2001). The two most prevalent forms of the anthrax disease are cutaneous anthrax and inhalational anthrax . The cutaneous form probably is more visually recognized, but it is not as virulent as inhalation anthrax (SnsTribune, 2002).

Cutaneous

95 % of all anthrax infections are cutaneous. The bacteria enter the body when a person handles anthrax contaminated wool, hides, leather or hair - paricularly goat hair (CDC, 2001). Cutaneous anthrax enters the bloodstream through a cut in the skin (SnsTribune, 2002). The infection may be bumpy and itch like an insect bite initially. Within 1-2 days the surrounding lymph glands may begin to swell (CDC, 2001). Within 2 days, the symptoms of seeping wounds on the skin appear (SnsTribune, 2002). Cutaneous anthrax rarely results in death when treated with antibiotics. However, in the untreated cases, about 20 % die (CDC, 2001). The picture at bottom left shows an example of cutaneous anthrax onset. Click on the image to view more pictures of cutaneous anthrax. Click on the link below the picture to see a detailed view of the onset of cutaneous anthrax.

Inhalational

The more deadly version is inhalational anthrax. It takes 8,000 + spores to produce infection in humans. The spores must be small in size in order to lodge in the alveolar sacs in the lungs. About 1-5 microns in diameter, the spores cannot be seen individually. Once in the lungs, the spores will germinate within 2 months. They will then spread to the lymph glands in the chest (SnsTribune, 2002). Soon after they have spread, the individual will respond with flu-like symptoms, folowed by severe breathing problems and shock, and eventually death (SnsTribune, 2002 & CDC, 2001). Because anthrax, and many other diseases begin with symptoms normally associated with the flu, the best way to diagnose inhaltion anthrax is by a chest x - ray, which will reveal some degree of abnormality (CDC, 2002). Click the link below the picture at topleft to see a great diagram of how inhalation anthrax works.

Gastrointestinal

Gastrointestinal anthrax arises from ingestion of anthrax contaminated meat. Symptoms include: inflamation of the intestines, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting and fever. It then progresses into abdominal pain, vomiting blood, and severe diarrhea. 25 % - 60 % of these types of cases end in death (CDC, 2001).

"Few people ever get anthrax" (CDC, 2002). If contracted, it is non-communicable, it cannot be passed from person to person (CDC, 2001). Herbivores are the main victims of this disease . They become infected by ingestion of the bacterial spores that have fallen on plants. The spores are transferred to plants by wind or by flies that have been eating anthrax contaminated carcasses. The gastrointestinal form of anthrax is the result (Robertson, 2003). Anthrax is commonly found in developing countries, agricultural regions, and places with no public veterinary services. South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia Africa, the Carbbean, and the Middle East have the most cases of anthrax infected animals (CDC, 2001).The first cases of inhalation anthrax in the U.S. were seen as of October 2001 as a result of bioterrorism (CDC, 2002). There were 22 cases of anthrax arising from that attack: 11 cutaneous and 11 inhalational . 5 of the victims died of inhalational anthrax (Center for Civilian Biodefense Strategies, 2002). Only 10 other cases have been reported and the victims tended to be postal workers (CDC, 2002).

ISSUES OF CONTROL

If acquired, Anthrax becomes rapidly fatal. It is because of this quality that it is an effective choice for bioterroristic acts. In this society of politcal uncertainty, the use of anthrax, both at home and abroad, may become more frequent in the near future.

There are varying treatments to the disease Anthrax, but the most recent developments have been more effective than those used in the past. Up until recently, the most common way that scientists have treated this disease was by vaccination. The vaccine was developed by filtering artificially grown laboratory B. anthracis. The new, more effective method for treatment is a technique developed in the far east. In this process, scientists have isolated bacteriophages to attack and dissolve the cell walls of Bacillus anthracis. This particular method involves using PlyG lysin. "PlyG lysin can kill 50 million bacteria in two minutes, they found, making it more potent than many antibiotics"(nature online, 2001).

However, prevention still plays an important role with livestock. Reducing the risk of exposure is imperative to controlling the spread of the disease among animals. Human contact with these animals could result in the contracting of the disease. Precautions such as burying or burning of known infected animals should be taken. Humans should not ingest animals that have mysteriously been found dead, or have been sick. These and other methods are widely used by farmers of livestock (CDC, 2000).