Bacillus Anthracis and Biological Warfare Essay -- Germs Infections Wa

Bacillus Anthracis and Biological Warfare Bacillus anthracis is a rod-shaped, nonmotile, aerobic, gram-positive bacterium that can be transmitted from herbivoric animals to humans (Figure 1). Before an animal’s death, its orifices exude blood containing huge quantities of the bacterium. Anthrax forms extremely resilient spores upon exposure to atmospheric conditions. Because of this spore-producing ability, even after the animal host dies the germs can sporulate again, persisting in the soil for up to several decades (1). No cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported for this zoonosis. Historically, human cases have been either industrial, as with woolsorter’s, or agricultural (2). Anthrax can be transmitted via 3 routes: cutaneous anthrax, gastric anthrax, and inhalational anthrax. Of the three, cutaneous anthrax is clearly the most prevalent, accounting for about 95% of all cases (3). In cutaneous anthrax, the bacterium invades when broken skin contacts contaminated animal products (1). Within about 2 weeks, at the point of entry a localized sore develops which turns the skin black, becoming a large welt. This coal black lesion "gave rise to the term anthrax that is derived from the Greek anthrakos" which means ‘coal’ (3). While generally self-limited, large doses of oral antibiotics such as penicillin, ciprofloxacin, or doxycycline cure cutaneous anthrax rapidly and effectively. Antibiotic treatment speeds healing, and decreases the possibility of systemic diffusion and lethal toxemia (4). With both gastric and inhalational anthrax, on the other hand, large doses of intravenous antibiotics are necessary (2). Gastric anthrax is exceedingly rare, and results from consumption of contaminated, poorly cooked mea... ...defense against bioterrorism." Emerging Infectious Diseases. 5.4 (1999): 531-33. 22. Friedlander, AM, Pittman, PR, and GW Parker. "Anthrax vaccine: Evidence for safety and efficacy against inhalational anthrax." JAMA. 282.22 (1999): 2104-06. 23. Nass, M. "Anthrax vaccine: Model of a response to the biologic warfare threat." Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 13.1 (1999): 187-205. 24. Sidel, VW. "Weapons of mass destruction: The greatest threat to public health." JAMA. 262.5 (1989): 680-82. 25. Fox, JL. "Adjusting FDA policies to address bioterrorist threat." Nature Biotechnology. 17 (1999): 323-24. 26. Zegers, ND, Kluter, E, van der Stap, H, et al. "Expression of the protective antigen of Bacillus anthracis by Lactobacillus casei: Towards the development of an oral vaccine against anthrax." Journal of Applied Microbiology. 87 (1999): 309-14.