The Study Of Anthrax

The Study of Anthrax

The world is plagued by infectious diseases, of various types, every day. Every country has its share of these diseases that promote a possible threat to all living organisms in the environment; from plants and animals to even humans. Anthrax, however, is one of the most deadly infectious agents known to man. With multiple ways of contraction and the ability to be used as a biological weapon, it is a very feared yet respected chemical agent. Therefore, it is important to know as much as possible about this very lethal disease, anthrax.

Bacillus anthracis, commonly known as anthrax, is a very serious disease causing bacteria. According to the National Center for Infectious Diseases (2005) "Anthrax is an encapsulated, nonmotile, aerobic, spore-forming bacterial rod" (¶ 2). This bacterium is also neither new to the world, nor the scientific community. Anthrax has actually has been present in many historical texts, before the actual discovery of the bacteria took place. Guillemin (1999) wrote, Anthrax is as old as pastoralism and the origins of civilization. It might be the Sixth Plague, the sooty "morain," in the Book of Exodus that kills livestock and affects people with black spots. It is probably Apollo's "burning wind of plague" that begins Homer's Iliad (p.3)

Therefore, by 1850 when the bacterium was actually observed by a French scientist, it was no surprise that this disease existed. However, the surprise did come later, with the advancement in technology, by learning the extent to anthrax's deadliness.

Diseases can be spread in many different forms. Anthrax is considered extremely deadly, due to the fact that it can be transmitted in three different forms. The three ways to contract anthrax are from: skin (cutaneous), lungs (inhalational), and digestive (gastrointestinal) contact. Although it is not yet known to spread from person to person it is highly dangerous since it can spread easily and rapidly by any of theses forms of contraction. The most common of the three is through the skin. The cutaneous contact is also the only form that requires a vector, usually in the form of a grazing animal, especially sheep, horses, cows, and coats. These animals contract the disease from contaminated soil or by eating or inhaling spores. Side effects of anthrax vary based on how an organism contracts it. Guillemin (1999) explains "It begins with a tiny pimple, in a few hours this eruption becomes a reddish-brown irritation and swelling that turns into an ulcer, next the 'feverish blister' splits the skin and then develops into a black scab like crust over the lesion" (p.4) Guillmein has explained the contraction from the cutaneous form. The inhalational form includes symptoms defined by Kyricacou ET all. (2004) "nausea, vomiting, pallor, diaphoresis, altered mental status, and shortness of breath" (¶1). Finally, the gastrointestinal form includes symptoms of loss of appetite, bloody diarrhea, fever, and bad stomach pain.

The main reason why anthrax is so feared is due to the ability to turn the spores into a powder form and be used as a biological weapon. Many Americans fear this disease specifically because of terrorist attacks in the past. Fennelly ET all. (2004) wrote "The intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores through the mail in the United States in the fall of 2001 was associated with inhalation anthrax in 11 persons, 5 (45%) of whom died" (p.996) The fatality rate with cuaneous anthrax in the United States is less that 1%, but for inhalation and gastrointestinal cases it ranged near 75%. However, there is treatment available to those who contract this bacterium. Ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, and penicillin are all FDA approved treatment s for anthrax. These are used to treat all forms of anthrax, but are found to be most effective with the cutaneous form. Vaccine's are also used as a preventative measure, however are only recommended for those who would be at high risk to come into contact with anthrax spores or carriers. These treatments, in order to be effective, must be used immediately after contracting the disease.

Anthrax is not commonly found within the United States; it is found throughout the world but cannot be pinpointed to a particular geographical region. The distribution of the disease is mainly caused by animals carrying the infected spores. This also leads to a targeted group that