Mehrnoosh Jani,1,*saman hakimian,2
1. dvm student of science and research Islamic Azad university 2. M.sc student of Pathogenic Microbes Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch
Introduction: Anthrax is globally a zoonotic and fatal disease that can infect mostly herbivores and also humans. The causative agent of anthrax is Bacillus anthracis, which is Gram positive, capsulated, non-motile and aerobic or facultatively anaerobic, belonging to the family Bacillacae. It produces spores that can persists for decades in the soil despite extreme temperatures, chemicals and even ultra-violet radiation, which can cause an outbreak after a climate shift. The severity of the disease is due to production of endotoxin. The endotoxin has three components (which are proteins): Edema factor(EF), protective antigen (PA)and lethal factor(LF). Individually these proteins are non-toxic, but they can become lethal if allowed to combine and interact within the cells of the exposed human or animal.
Methods: Two plasmids, pXO1 and pXO2, play the key role in the pathogenicity of Bacillus anthracis. They are responsible for the production of anthrax toxins and the formation of a poly-γ-d-glutamic acid (PGA) capsule that this capsule protects the bacilli from phagocytosis. Anthrax infection in humans has been categorized into two; Agricultural and Industrial. Agricultural cases occur when people come in contact with tissues from infected or death animals these include veterinarians, butchers, slaughterhouse workers, Industrial cases are those that occur during cleaning and processing of infected animal products.
Results: There are 4 types of anthrax: a) Cutaneous anthrax (skin anthrax): it happens by skin penetration or touching any infected products. It mostly effects arm, hands, face, neck and foot. This form is about 95% in society and is a very less dangerous form. Its symptoms for 1 to 7 days. It looks like an insect bite with a black centered painless sore on the skin and it can easily treated with antibiotics. b) Gastrointestinal anthrax: it happens by eating uncooked foods which the spore enters to the body. c) Inhalation anthrax: this happens by breathing in places where anthrax spores are found. It is the most dangerous form and can become chronic. symptoms are fever, shortness of breath, coughing, headache, and fatigue. d) Injection anthrax: it has been seen in people dealing with the Heroin injections. This form shows the redness along the site of injection, swelling. As the disease stay long will cause the failure of the organs, shock and also causes the meningitis.
Conclusion: This disease is common in developing countries like the Sahara Desert in Africa, central and southwestern Asia (Turkey, Labnan, Syria, Iran, Egypt), and the Caribbean. Several periodic outbreaks of anthrax were reported. Also In Kenya, anthrax outbreaks occur continuously from different parts of the country. anthracis in spleen tissue by realtime PCR should be considered as the method of choice for rapid confirmation of anthrax. In comparison to conventional PCR, real-time PCR is more sensitive For necropsy findings we have incomplete or absent rigor mortis with dark tarry blood oozing from the mouth, nostrils, anus, and if the carcass is opened, several necropsies observed include blood being dark thickened and failing to clot, hemorrhages on the serosal surface of the abdomen, thorax, epicardium, endocardium, and gastrointestinal tract mucosa and enlarged, dark red, or black, soft, semifluid spleen. Also in the skull meningitis might be seen.