Changes

==Description==

===Description===

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium [[Bacillus anthracis]].

Anthrax is a serious, often fatal zoonotic disease of wild and domestic mammals caused by the spore-forming bacterium [[Bacillus anthracis]]. There are three main forms of the disease; gastrointestinal, pulmonary or cutaneous.

*Clinical signs:

 

**Cattle/sheep:

===Clinical signs====

 

====Cattle/sheep====

***Fatal peracute septicaemia

***Fatal peracute septicaemia

***Animals usually found dead

***Animals usually found dead

***Pyrexia, depression, congested mucous membranes and petechiae before death

***Pyrexia, depression, congested mucous membranes and petechiae before death

***Abortion, subcutaneous oedema and dysentry in animals surviving more that one day

***Abortion, subcutaneous oedema and dysentry in animals surviving more that one day

**Pigs:

 

===Pigs===

 

***Subacute anthrax with oedematous swelling of throat, head and regional lymph nodes

***Subacute anthrax with oedematous swelling of throat, head and regional lymph nodes

***Intestinal form with high mortality - dysentry due to haemorrhagic enteric lesions

***Intestinal form with high mortality - dysentry due to haemorrhagic enteric lesions

***[[Peritonitis#In pigs|Peritonitis]]

***[[Peritonitis#In pigs|Peritonitis]]

**Horses:

 

===Horses===

 

***Subacute anthrax with subcutaneous oedema of thorax, abdomen and legs following entrance of spores into abrasions  

***Subacute anthrax with subcutaneous oedema of thorax, abdomen and legs following entrance of spores into abrasions  

***Septicaemia with colic and dysentry due to haemorrhagic enteritis from ingestion of spores; ecchymoses and splenomegaly

***Septicaemia with colic and dysentry due to haemorrhagic enteritis from ingestion of spores; ecchymoses and splenomegaly

**Dogs

 

===Dogs===

***Rarely affected, but similar disease to that found in pigs

***Rarely affected, but similar disease to that found in pigs

**Humans

 

===Humans===

***Cutaneous anthrax - localised lesion from entrance into abrasion which can cause septicaemia

***Cutaneous anthrax - localised lesion from entrance into abrasion which can cause septicaemia

***Pulmonary anthrax - inhalation of spores

***Pulmonary anthrax - inhalation of spores