(Bacillus anthracis)
As a Bioterrorism Agent
Anthrax
• Anthrax spores
germinate in an
environment rich with
amino-acids,
nucleosides, and glucose
What is a micron?
• 1 micron = 1/1,000,000 meter
• Eye of needle 1,230 microns
• 1 mil = 1/1000 inch
• Beach sand 100 – 2000 microns
• 1 inch = 25,400 microns
• Syndrome
– hemorrhagic mediastinitis/pleural effusion
– rapid progression to severe respiratory distress with
dyspnea, diaphoresis, stridor, cyanosis
– 50% of cases may rapidly develop concurrent
hemorrhagic meningitis with bloody cerebral spinal fluid
– septicemia, toxic shock/death occur within 24-36 hours
after onset of respiratory distress
Inhalational Anthrax (Con’t.)
Heart
Lung
The Human Brain
B. anthracis
• Non-motile
• Non-hemolytic
• Encapsulated
• Gram-positive rod
Positive encapsulation test for Bacillus anthracis
Anthrax - Laboratory Diagnosis