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**Endospores survive decades in the soil
**Endospores survive decades in the soil
**Outbreaks in herbivores grazing pastures contaminated by spores from buried carcases
**Outbreaks in herbivores grazing pastures contaminated by spores from buried carcases
**Infection usually by ingestion of spores
**Infection usually by ingestion of spores and penetration through damaged mucosa
*Pathogenesis and pathogenicity:
*Pathogenesis and pathogenicity:
**Spores germinate at site of entry and spread via lymphatics to bloodstream, where they multiply and produce toxin
**Capsule and toxin (encoded by separate plasmids) required for virulence
**Capsule and toxin (encoded by separate plasmids) required for virulence
**Capsule composed of homopolymer of D-isomer of glutamic acid allows survival in the body by resisting phagocytosis
**Capsule composed of homopolymer of D-isomer of glutamic acid allows survival in the body by resisting phagocytosis
***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
***[[Peritoneal cavity - inflammatory#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
**Dogs
**Dogs
***Rarely affected, but similar disease to that foung in pigs
***Rarely affected, but similar disease to that foung in pigs
**Humans
***Cutaneous anthrax - localised lesion from entrance into abrasion which can cause septicaemia
***Pulmonary anthrax - inhalation of spores
***Intestinal anthrax - ingestion of infective material
*Diagnosis:
**Post mortem: bloat, incomplete rigor mortis, ecchymoses, oedema, dark unclotted blood from orifices, blooy fluid in body cavities, splenomegaly
**