Strategic Communicable Animal Diseases and Priority Zoonoses

Strategic Communicable Animal Diseases and Priority Zoonoses

Anthrax (Anthrax) is an infectious animal disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax usually attacks herbivorous animals such as cows, goats, sheep, and others and can be transmitted to humans. The bacteria that cause anthrax, if exposed to air, can form spores that are highly resistant to environmental conditions and chemicals including certain disinfectants and can last for decades. in the ground. Due to the presence of spores which are the source of this infection found in the soil, anthrax is also often called “soil disease”.

Cattle infected with anthrax usually have a high fever at the start of the infection. Cattle then experience anxiety, difficulty breathing, convulsions, collapse, and death. Not infrequently livestock die suddenly without showing clinical signs. In addition, it is often found that there is excreta in the form of blood that can be seen coming from the kumlah orifices such as the nose, mouth, ears and anus. Swelling in certain areas such as the neck, chest, abdomen, and around the genitals is also often found. Cattle sometimes do not show signs of blood coming from the pit, but they can see a stomach that is affected by bloating, shortness of breath, convulsions and followed by death.

How can livestock get anthrax?

Transmission of Anthrax occurs through spores produced by the bacteria that cause Anthrax. These soil-resistant spores, if they enter the animal’s body through food or drink, can cause infection. Livestock that have been attacked by anthrax may excrete the bacteria that cause anthrax before they die. Therefore, if livestock attacked by anthrax are slaughtered, the bacteria can form spores and spread back into the environment and are difficult to eradicate. Immediate transmission between livestock is not common.

Can Anthrax infect humans?

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease, meaning that anthrax can be transmitted from animals to humans. Humans can be infected if exposed through open wounds on the skin, ingesting or inhaling anthrax spores. More than 90% of cases of anthrax encountered in humans are of the cutaneous anthrax type.

Infection through open wounds on the skin is the most common transmission to humans. Visible symptoms include rashes, bumps, and redness of the skin which are accompanied by burning and itching and in the middle are black in color. It is also common to have swollen lymph nodes around the infected skin. In addition, it is often accompanied by fever, weakness, nausea and vomiting.

Visible symptoms of anthrax infection through the digestive tract include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea which is sometimes accompanied by blood. Meanwhile, infections through the respiratory tract are characterized by pain or inflammation of the throat, tightness in the chest, and difficulty breathing. In humans, anthrax bacterial infection can be treated with the help of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and doxycycline and accompanied by antitoxin.

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