ANTHRAX OR SPLENIC FEVER OR WOOL SORTER’S DISEASE
It is per acute septicaemic disease of herbivorous animals (specially cattle and
buffalo) characterized by sudden death. It is also known as Splenic fever due to
extensive enlargement of spleen in this disease. It is a highly zoonotic disease.
Aetiology:
It is caused by a bacterium known as Bacillus anthracis which is straight, very large
rod-shaped, non- motile, capsulated, aerobic, spore bearing, gram positive organism.
The spores are very much resistant to hot, cold, chemicals and drying.
Bacillus anthracis produces three types of toxins –
1. Factor I – denotes the oedema factor
2. Factor II – denotes the protective antigen
3. Factor III – denotes lethal factor.
Anthrax toxin allows the bacteria to evade the immune system, proliferate and
ultimately kill the host animal.
Mode of transmission:
The anthrax spores have got the ability to remain viable in the soil for a considerable
period of time and thus remain as a continuous source of spread to the susceptible
animals. Domestic and wild animals can become infected when they breath in or
ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. Spores can also enter the animal
body through breach in the oral mucosa or skin.
Clinical findings:
There are three form of clinical symptoms –
1. Per acute form
2. Acute form
3. Subacute form
1. Per acute form – In this form there is sudden death without any clinical signs
which is characteristic in nature. But sometimes death is preceded by staggering
gait, trembling of the body, vertigo, grinding of teeth and laboured breathing.
There is frothy haemorrhagic discharge from the mouth and other natural orifices.
In this form, animal may die within few minutes to few hours.
2. Acute form – There is elevation of body temperature (104⁰F - 108⁰F). Animal
refuse to eat and there is development of bloat. Animal is extremely depressed
and respiration and pulse rate are accelerated, this period is followed by extreme
aggressiveness. At the end, animal shows distressed breathing, extreme dyspnoea
leads to mouth breathing due to oxygen hunger. Death usually occurs within 48
hrs and following death, there are oozing of blood from all the natural orifices.
3. Subacute form – This form is characterized by oedema which is predominantly
noticed under neck, brisket region, thorax, abdomen and flank. The oedema of
thorax and brisket region produces respiratory distress. Jugular pulse is noticed
at the terminal stage of the disease. Pregnant cow may abort and some animals
may survive for 2 – 3 months.
Diagnosis:
1. Animal that died suddenly with bloody discharges from mouth, nostrils,
anus must be suspected to have died of anthrax.
2. The anthrax suspected carcass should not be opened because sufficient
number of anthrax bacilli are present in the blood during terminal stages of
the diseases.
3. Laboratory examination –
a. Microscopic examination of blood films.
b. Cultural examination.
c. Animal inoculation test
d. Serological test
Line of treatment:
1. Treatment is always effective if the cases are attended at the initial stage of
the disease.
2. Anthrax bacilli are sensitive to Penicillin, Streptomycin and other broad-
spectrum antibiotic such as Oxytetracycline, Erythromycin, Ceftriazone,
Cefodoxime etc.
3. Anti-anthrax serum @ 100 – 200 ml through intravenous route along with a
course of Penicillin may be given.
4. In all cases, treatment has to be continued at least for 5 – 7 days.
Control measures:
1. Control of anthrax in areas free from the disease should be achieved by
preventing the introduction of infected animals.
2. The fodder from the infected pasture should be destroyed and not to be given
to the susceptible animals.
3. Strict quarantine arrangement should be made in the anthrax prone areas.
4. Care should be taken to destroy the dead animals by deep burial with
quicklime.
5. The adjacent areas of the dead and infected animals should be thoroughly
disinfected by applying 3 % peracetic acid or 10 % caustic soda or 10 %
formalin.
6. Carcasses should not be opened as it may contaminate the pasture.
7. Hides, wools, bone meals etc should be sterilised by gamma radiation and get
certified from competent authority as free from anthrax spores.
8. Persons handling the anthrax infected animals should adopt adequate sanitary
measures for their own safety because anthrax is a zoonotic disease. Anthrax
bacilli or spores may produce cutaneous abscess known as Hide porter’s
disease, pneumonia known as Wool sorter’s disease or dysentery in men.
9. Immunization: Anthrax vaccine should be given annually.
Vaccine commonly used against anthrax are –
a. Pasteur vaccine
b. Spore vaccine
c. Stern vaccine.