Anthrax and Bio-terrorism.
Jayanta Choudhary1, Malay Bhattacharya2 and Debadin Bose3*

1Office of the Deputy Director, Animal Resources Development (Microbiology), Regional Laboratory, Jalpaiguri -  India.

2Ambari Falakata C.M. High School., PO- Kamarvita, Jalpaiguri  India.

3Department of Botany, Ananda Chandra College, Jalpaiguri  India.

Corresponding Author E-mail debadin@hotmail.com  

Abstract: Threat of terrorism has compelled to attract the attention to the risk posed by various microorganisms as biological weapons. Anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivorous animals, although all mammals including humans and at least some avian species can contract it. The disease has world wide distribution and is a zoonosis. Circumstantial evidence indicates that man is moderately resistant to anthrax. Cutaneous anthrax is said to account for 95% or more of human cases globally. Molecular techniques can help in identifying the diversity of the pathogen. plasmid pXO1 is of 184.5 kb pairs and encodes toxin complex, which consists of three synergistically acting proteins i.e., Protective Antigen(PA,83 KDa), Lethal Factor(LF, 87 KDa) and Oedema Factor (EF, 89 KDa) is produced during the log phase of growth of B anthracis. Anthrax in human is classically divided in two ways. The first type of classification, which reflects how the occupation of the individual led to exposure of anthrax occurring in farmer, butcher, knackers, veterinarians and so no is non industrial type. Other type is industrial anthrax, occurring in those employed in bones, hides, wool and other animal products. Prompt and timely antibiotic therapy usually results in dramatic recovery of the individual or animal infected with anthrax. Almost all isolates of B anthracis can be expected to be highly sensitive to penicillin and being cheap and readily available in most parts of the world, this remains the basis of treatment schedules. Despite improvements in treatment and prophylaxis, anthrax considered as a fatal infection. Biowarfare attacks by anthrax agents are now a serious possibility. Primary prevention depends on creating a strong global norm that stops development of such weapons. Secondary prevention depends on early detection and its prompt treatment.

Keywords: Anthrax; Bio-terrorism

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