Microbe of the Week Bacillus Anthracis

1
Microbe of the WeekBacillus Anthracis

• Rod shape bacterim
• Gram positive
• Causative agent for anthrax
• Exists in two forms
• Vegetative and Endospore

2
Bacillus anthracis Spore form

• Soil dwelling
• Exceptionally viable. Can exists for decades
• Dormant until an optimal environment presents
  itself.
• Sporicides have the ability to kill the spores.

3
Bacillus anthracisVegetative State

• Bacteremia- Blood pathogen
• Vaccine is available
• Anthrax spore vaccine
• Very easily killed
• Increased risks amongst professionals that work
  with livestock.

4
Background

• Bacillus anthracis was the first disease-causing
  bacterium discovered
• Discovered in 1877 by Robert Koch
• Koch also discovered tuberculosis bacillus and
  cholera vibrio
• Anthracis means coal, which refers to the black
  lesions formed by the cutaneous form of the
  disease

5
Disease

• Cutaneous Anthrax
• Organism enters through a break in the skin
• Most common
• Causes swelling and lesions
• Only a small percentage of cutaneous infections
  are fatal

• Inhalation Anthrax
• Organism enters through the respiratory tract
• Mortality rate is near 100
• Initial flu-like symptoms that progress to
  hypotension, bacteremia and toxemia

• Intestinal Anthrax
• Contracted from consumption of contaminated meat
• Symptoms include anorexia, nausea, vomiting and
  abdominal pain along with hemorrhagic disrrhea
• Can become systemic and fatal