Classification: ICD-9 022; ICD-10 A22
Syndromes and synonyms: Charbon, malignant pustule, malignant edema, woolsorter disease, tanner disease.
Agent: Spores of Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive, encapsulated, non-motile rod. The spores are resistant to desiccation, extremes of temperature and pH, ultraviolet radiation and many disinfectants, and can remain viable for 60 years. It is considered a biological warfare agent.
Reservoir: Soil, animal hair, wool or hides, particularly goat skins contaminated with soil. Spores can germinate outside an animal under appropriate conditions.
Vector: Tabanid and Stomoxys flies and mosquitoes can transmit, but are not epizootic vectors. Blow-flies can also spread the bacteria.
Transmission: Contact with infected animal tissue. Cutaneous anthrax: direct skin inoculation during processing of contaminated animal hides, hair, wool, or animal hide products. Gastro-intestinal (GI) anthrax: consuming meat from infected livestock. Inhalation anthrax: inhalation of anthrax spores by tanning/shearing sheep or processing contaminated hair/wool or intentional during a bioterrorist attack. Rare in IVDU from contaminated heroin. There is no direct person-to-person transmission.
Cycle
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