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Anthrax

There are three types of anthrax which affect skin, lungs and the digestive system. Generally, outbreaks of this disease occur in areas where animals have previously died of anthrax, due to the presence of spores which remain viable for decades. Cattle infected with anthrax will progress from a normal, healthy state to death in a matter of hours.

Common Names

Anthrax is commonly known as Malignant carbuncle, Malignant pustule, Woolsorter's disease and Rag-picker's disease.

Causative Organism

Anthrax is a critical disease which is caused by Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax is a highly infectious and fatal disease of mammals. The bacterium is a spore-forming micro-organism that forms many more bacterium if right conditions are available. Humans can also become infected with anthrax by dealing with products from infected animals or by breathing in anthrax spores.

Common Symptoms

  1. Definite signs of weakness in herd cattle
  2. Difficulty in breathing
  3. Convulsions
  4. Bloody discharges from natural openings of the body
  5. Mild fever
  6. Muscle aches & stomach pain

How it Affects Cattle

Anthrax is primarily a disease of domestic and wild animals, particularly herbivorous animals, such as cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and goats. Outbreaks in swine, dogs, cats, and wild animals held in captivity generally result from consumption of contaminated food. The disease may occur in an acute or sub acute form. Anthrax typically causes an unusual rise in body temperature followed by depression, cardiac distress, staggering and death. Affected animals sometimes die of suffocation. Prophylactic vaccination is extensively used in preventing anthrax in livestock.

Regional Impacts

In reality all animals are susceptible to anthrax. Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, and mules of any origin are equally affected. Pastures and grazing lands are the most common hunting grounds of this bacterium.

Risks & Dangers

Bloody discharges sometimes come from the natural body openings, and fluid swellings may appear on different parts of the body. During outbreaks, strict quarantine measures should be adopted. In horses and pigs, anthrax spreads more gradually with progressive swelling of the throat and neck. The disease is highly contagious. Extreme caution should be used in handling infected and dead animals.

Treatments

Fluoroquinones like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, or ofloxacin are preferred treatments for anthrax. Ciprofloxacin, Tetracycline and Doxycycline are to be used only as second-line of defense.

Vaccines & Prevention

Vaccination is very effective in preventing further occurrence of anthrax in animals. This is useful even after an outbreak has occurred but the time for resistance is about 14 days. Antibiotics should not be used together with vaccines. A new improved vaccine is currently being developed by the Unites States Government.

References and Resources