Title:Human Anthrax as a Re-Emerging Disease
VOLUME: 10 ISSUE: 1
Author(s):Mehmet Doganay and Hayati Demiraslan
Affiliation:Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039 Kayseri, Turkey.
Keywords:Anthrax, bioterrorism-related anthrax, clinic presentations, epidemiology, naturally occurring
anthrax, treatment.
Abstract:Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivores and the etiological agent is B. anthracis
which is a gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, and rod shaped bacterium. Bacillus anthracis
spores are highly resistant to heat, pressure, ultraviolet and ionizing radiation, chemical
agents and disinfectants. For these reasons, B. anthracis spores are an attractive choice as biological agents for
the use of bioweapon and/or bioterrorism. Soil is the main reservoir for the infectious agent. The disease most
commonly affects wild and domestic mammals. Human are secondarily infected by contact with infected animals
and contaminated animal products or directly expose to B. anthracis spores. Anthrax occurs worldwide.
This infection is still endemic or hyperendemic in both animals and humans in some part of areas of the world;
particularly in Middle East, West Africa, Central Asia, some part of India, South America. However, some countries
are claiming free of anthrax, and anthrax has become a re-emerging disease in western countries with the
intentional outbreak. Currently, anthrax is classified according to its setting as (1) naturally occurring anthrax,
(2) bioterrorism-related anthrax. Vast majority of human anthrax are occurring as naturally occurring anthrax in
the world. It is also a threaten disease for western countries. The aim of this paper is to review the relevant patents,
short historical perspective, microbiological and epidemiological features, clinical presentations and treatment.
