Study On The Anthrax Disease Biology Essay

Study On The splenic fever Disease Biology EssayIn 2001, letters containing the acerbic Ames strain of anthrax spores were mailed to several news media offices killing five people and infecting 17 differents. I found this story and the use of anthrax as a bioterrorism weapon fascinatingAnthrax is a life-threatening infectious disease that normally affects animals, especially goats, cattle, sheep, and horses. Anthrax canful be patrimonial to earthly concern by contact with infected animals or their products. However, anthrax does not spread from person to person.Anthraxis anacutedisease caused by the bacteriumB. anthracis. more or less forms of the disease argon lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals. As a member of the genusBacillus,B. anthraciscan form dormantendosporesthat be able to survive in harsh conditions for decades.For example, spores have been known to have re-infected animals over 70 years after the burial sites of anthrax-infected animals were distur bed. When spores are inhaled, ingested, or come into contact with a flake lesion on a host, they may become reactivated and multiply rapidly. If the spores of anthrax are inhaled, they migrate to lymph glands in the chest where they proliferate, spread, and produce toxins that often cause death.The symptoms vary depending on whether the anthrax spores were inhaled, ingested or through the skin.Inhalation AnthraxThe first symptoms are subtle, gradual and flu-like. However as the illness worsens thither may be unappeasable respiratory distress, shock and coma. Spores are transported in the lymph nodes where they multiply producing deadly toxins, resulting in severe haemorrhage and necrosis. Usually causing death as although prescribed antibiotics are effective in eradicating the bacteria they do not destroy the toxins already released by the anthrax bacteria.Gastro intestinal AnthraxThis form of anthrax is the rarest form. Gastrointestinal infection in humans is most often caused b y eating anthrax-infected meat and is characterized by serious gastrointestinal difficulty,vomiting of blood, severe diarrhoea, acute inflammation of the intestinal tract, and outrage of appetite. Some lesions have been found in the intestines and in the mouth and throat. After the bacterium invades the bowel system, it spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body, making heretofore more toxins on the way. Gastrointestinal infections can be treated but usually result in fatality rates of 25% to 60%, depending upon how briefly treatment commences.Cutaneous AnthraxCutaneous anthrax is typically caused whenB. anthracisspores enter through cuts on the skin. This form of Anthrax is found most commonly when humans handle infected animals and/or animal products. Cutaneous anthrax is rarely fatal if treated,because the infection area is limited to the skin. The dermal form of anthrax starts as a red-brown raised spot that enlarges with redness around it, blistering, and hardening . There lymph nodes get swollen in this area. Symptoms include muscle aches and pain,headache,fever,nausea, and vomiting. The illness usually resolves in just about six weeks, but deaths may occur if patients do not receive appropriate antibiotics.The bacteria may be found in cultures or smears in cutaneous anthrax and in throat swabs and sputum in pulmonary anthrax.Chest X-rays may also show characteristic changes in and between the lungs. former(a) thanGram stainof specimens, there are no specific direct identification techniques for identification ofBacillus speciesin clinical material. A specific character ofBacillus species that makes it unique from other aerobic microorganisms is its ability to produce spores. Although spores are not always evident on a Gram stain of this organism, the front of spores confirms that the organism is of the genusBacillus.French scientist Louis Pasteur developed the first effective vaccine for anthrax in 1881.In most cases, early treatment can cure anthrax. The cutaneous form of anthrax can be treated with common antibiotics such aspenicillin,tetracycline,erythromycin, andciprofloxacin.The pulmonary form of anthrax is a medical emergency.There are several vaccines in current use. The Russian vaccine, called STI is alive-attenuated vaccinebased on spores from theStern strainofB. anthracis.The STI vaccines serious side-effects restrict use to healthy adults.If a person is suspected as having died from anthrax, every precaution should be taken to avoid skin contact with the potentially contaminated body and fluids exuded through essential body openings. The body should be put in strict quarantine.Full isolation of the body is important to prevent realistic contamination of others. Protective, impermeable uniform and equipment such asrubber gloves, rubber apron, and rubber boots with no perforations should be used when handling the body. No skin, especially if it has any wounds or scratches, should be exposed.Anthrax canno t be spread directly from person to person, but a persons clothing and body may be contaminated with anthrax spores. Effective decontamination of people can be accomplished by a thorough wash-down withantimicrobialeffective soap and water. Burning clothing is very effective in destroying spores. After decontamination, there is no need to immunise, treat, or isolate contacts of persons ill with anthrax.Early antibiotic treatment of anthrax is essential, delay significantly lessens chances for survival.Treatment for anthrax infection and other bacterial infections includes large doses of intravenous and oralantibiotics, such asfluoroquinolones. In possible cases of inhalation anthrax, earlyantibiotic prophylaxistreatment is crucial to prevent possible death.Anthrax spores can survive for very keen-sighted periods of time in the environment after release. Methods for cleaning anthrax-contaminated sites commonly useoxidizing agents and liquid bleach products containing sodium hypochlor ite. These agents slowly destroy bacterial spores. The pH of the solution should be tested with a paper test strip and treated surfaces must remain in contact with the bleach solution for 60 minutes.Anthrax spores can and have been used as abiological warfareweapon. There is a long history of practicalbioweaponsresearch in this area. For example, in 1942, British bioweapons trials severely contaminatedGruinard Islandin Scotland with anthrax spores of the Vollum-14578 strain, making it a no-go area until it was decontaminated in 1990.There are a number of economic impacts of a wide release of anthrax. These include loss of life and direct compensations to families. In addition healthcare, loss of property, decontamination, evacuation and return. After the 2001 attacks the cleanup of postal facilities and offices cost $130 million and took 26 months.