ANTHRAX. Mouse anthrax toxin experiments:
ANTHRAX. US Dollars
ANTHRAX. A disease caused by the spore-forming Bacillus anthracis bacterium, anthrax is another zoonosis from antiquity. Predominantly a disease of herbivores, humans can become infected directly or indirectly from contact with infected animals or animal products (World Health Organization 2008). Anthrax is not considered to be a communicable disease; however, person-to-person transmission (involving the cutaneous form) has been recorded but is extremely rare (Lalitha, Anandi et al. 1988) (Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxx 1998). In animals, anthrax remains endemic and common in some Mediterranean countries, some countries of central and South America and central Asia, some sub-Saharan African countries, and western China. Elsewhere, sporadic cases and outbreaks in people continue to occur (World Health Organization 2008) where there is the disease in animal populations or where humans are exposed to contaminated animal products. Humans are moderately resistant to infection and there is a reasonable evidence that prolonged exposure to widespread low-level environmental contamination (occupationally and non-occupationally) poses a negligible risk (World Health Organization 2008) (Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx et al. in preparation) (Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx et al. 2007) (Xxxxxx, Xxx Xx et al. 1960) (Wattiau, Govaerts et al. 2009). There is also evidence that even exposure to significant amounts of aerosolised Bacillus anthracis spores results in very few cases of infection (Xxxxxxxx, Gold et al. 1962) (Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx et al. 1960). There are three main forms of human anthrax: cutaneous, inhalational (the most severe form) and gastrointestinal, the form depending on the route of infection. Only inhalational anthrax is considered within this project and the reader is guided to D2.3 for more detail on the transmission mode for this form.
