Presently, there are now four principal forms of the anthrax that can occur in humans: Cutaneous (skin), Inhalational (pulmonary), Gastrointestinal, and injection. Of these, inhalation anthrax is the most dangerous and is rapidly fatal. Inhalation anthrax has been used as a deadly biological warfare agent in the last decade. Suitable animal models of inhalational anthrax have been utilized to study pathogenesis of disease and investigate bacterial characteristics such as virulence and the test of effectiveness of vaccines and therapeutics.
The handling of animals, or animal products, such as hides, horse hair plaster, and wool can result in human exposure. Following exposure, anthrax spores enter the vegetative stages in which they grow, divide and multiply in the lymph nodes of susceptible animals or humans. When vegetative cells escape from the animal body and are exposed to oxygen they form spores. The spores are highly resistant to heat, cold, chemical disinfectants, and drying. Spores are reported to have survived for many years in the environment.
When a person contracts a Cutaneous (surface of the skin) anthrax infection appears to be a boil-like skin lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center (eschar). The black eschar often shows up as a large, painless necrotic ulcer (beginning as an irritation and an itchy skin lesion, or blister, that is dark and usually concentrated as a black dot, somewhat resembling bread mold) at the site of infection. In general, Cutaneous Anthrax can happen when a person handles infected animals or contaminated animal products like wool, hides, or hair. It is most common on the head, neck, forearms and hands. Cutaneous anthrax infection develops within the site of spore penetration between one and seven days after exposure. Unlike bruises, or most other lesions, cutaneous anthrax infections normally do not cause pain. According to the CDC, “cutaneous anthrax is the most common form of anthrax infection, and is also considered to be the least dangerous.”
The handling of animals, or animal products, such as hides, horse hair plaster, and wool can result in human exposure. Following exposure, anthrax spores enter the vegetative stages in which they grow, divide and multiply in the lymph nodes of susceptible animals or humans. When vegetative cells escape from the animal body and are exposed to oxygen they form spores. The spores are highly resistant to heat, cold, chemical disinfectants, and drying. Spores are reported to have survived for many years in the environment.
When a person contracts a Cutaneous (surface of the skin) anthrax infection appears to be a boil-like skin lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center (eschar). The black eschar often shows up as a large, painless necrotic ulcer (beginning as an irritation and an itchy skin lesion, or blister, that is dark and usually concentrated as a black dot, somewhat resembling bread mold) at the site of infection. In general, Cutaneous Anthrax can happen when a person handles infected animals or contaminated animal products like wool, hides, or hair. It is most common on the head, neck, forearms and hands. Cutaneous anthrax infection develops within the site of spore penetration between one and seven days after exposure. Unlike bruises, or most other lesions, cutaneous anthrax infections normally do not cause pain. According to the CDC, “cutaneous anthrax is the most common form of anthrax infection, and is also considered to be the least dangerous.”