Anthrax Essay

Anthrax is a bacterial disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus anthracis (buh-SIL-us an-THRAY-sus). The Bacillus anthracis can exist in two different forms: favorable form, when the bacteria are rod-shaped and can grow and divide, or the unfavorable form, when they form a very resistant dormant spore that helps them survive extreme environmental conditions. Like other bacteria, Bacillus anthracis is very small, only about 1 by 9 micrometers in size. It is Gram-positive, which makes the bacteria purple-pinkish rods, with a relatively long lifespan of over 70 years. Bacillus anthracis feed on iron, oxygen, water, and nutrients to survive and reproduce. Bacillus anthracis need a favorable environment, but can reproduce in many different ways, either through spore germination, asexual bacterial reproduction, or formation of new spores. Herbivore animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary target of these bacteria and can be infected when they breathe in or ingest spores in contaminated soil, plants, or water. These elliptical shaped spores have thick and layered walls which make it resistant to heat, dryness, ultraviolet light, and gamma radiations. These spores initially develop inside the rod-shaped form, causing it to be named endospore. Because the bacteria is zoonosis, which means that it affects domestic and wild animals primarily, it is very rare for people to be infected by anthrax, but it is theoretically possible when the spores get into the body either through coming in contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Even though people can be infected with anthrax through animal contacts, it is not contagious, meaning that it cannot be transmitted from a person to person. After the spores get ...

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...ey may require aggressive treatment, such as continuous fluid drainage and use of mechanical ventilation to help the patient to breathe. Whatever the severity of it, it is important to get medical care as quickly as possible to have the best chance of full recovery.

Anthrax occurs all over the world, but is very rare in the United States. Likewise, it’s very rare in developed countries, but is more common in developing countries. Anthrax is most common in agricultural regions with domestic animals, such as Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, central and southwestern Asia, southern and eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Bacillus anthracis can be found in soil, water, and plants. Within the soil, the bacteria seem to favor the alkaline soils with high calcium and organic matter. The optimal growths of Bacillus anthracis seem to be around 37 degrees Celsius.