If there is one disease that is deadly for both Animals and Humans it would be anthrax. It is an infectious disease of animals and humans. The causation of it is a bacterium called Bacillus anthracis that mostly affects cattle, hogs, sheep, horses, and goats (MedlinePlus, 2016). This disease can be fatal for these sort of animals, and it kills its host by producing a toxin that kills the cells causing fluid to build up in the body’s tissues (Mock, Michele, Fouet, & Agnes, 2001). Adding to its lethal toxin, the dormant spores are highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions like chemical agents, heat, pressure, etc. When the soil is contaminated, those spores are able to survive for long periods of time (Lindeque, & Turnbull, 1994).
…show more content…
Scholars think that anthrax may have been the called the fifth plague during the 10 plagues of Egypt. The disease was characterized as a “sickness” to affect camels, oxen, cattle, sheep, and horses. Some people believe this could have lead to the fall of Rome (CDC, 2016). In 1613, the notorious “Black Bane” was an anthrax outbreak that was the first pandemic for Europe (Chu,?). The disease had not been truly discovered yet until a connection had been made between the animal hair industry and the disease. This caused it to be known as “wool sorters disease” (CDC, 2016). By the 1900s, anthrax was being well documented by countries like the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. But, that was not the case everywhere else. Especially in areas like Russia, Africa, India, and parts of Asia. In 1979, an abnormal outbreak of anthrax appeared in Sverdlovsk, USSR (The National Security Archive, 2001). Reports of this outbreak were released a year later by the USSR, claiming the outbreak was naturally occurring in livestock. This would explain the 96 cases of Anthrax in humans, which killed 64 people died from gastrointestinal anthrax (CDC, 2016). The real causation of this outbreak was a military biologic facility, which leaked out anthrax spores through the air (The National Security Archive, …show more content…
For cutaneous anthrax, symptoms will start 1 to 7 days after being exposed. An itchy sore will be created, and may even blister and form a black ulcer. Even though a sore is formed, it is usually painless, but there will swelling around the sore (MedlinePlus, 2016). Inhalation anthrax symptoms can include a cough, body aches, sweats, vomiting or stomach pains, chest discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, extreme tiredness, and fever and chills (CDC, 2014). Finally, gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms can include a fever, mouth sores, vomiting that may contain blood, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that may contain blood. These symptoms usually shows within a week (MedlinePlus, 2016). In 1876, Robert Koch was triggered to find the cause of anthrax because there was an epidemic of farm animals. When first experimenting, he used slivers of wood to infuse healthy mice with splenic tissue from an infected cow. This procedure would be done by their tails (Chu, ?). By performing this experiment, he was able to describe how the microbe he injected into the animal caused the disease. Also, he discovered the life cycle of the anthrax bacteria. Koch used anthrax to help him demonstrate and develop Koch’s postulates (CDC,
Scholars think that anthrax may have been the called the fifth plague during the 10 plagues of Egypt. The disease was characterized as a “sickness” to affect camels, oxen, cattle, sheep, and horses. Some people believe this could have lead to the fall of Rome (CDC, 2016). In 1613, the notorious “Black Bane” was an anthrax outbreak that was the first pandemic for Europe (Chu,?). The disease had not been truly discovered yet until a connection had been made between the animal hair industry and the disease. This caused it to be known as “wool sorters disease” (CDC, 2016). By the 1900s, anthrax was being well documented by countries like the United States, Germany, and Great Britain. But, that was not the case everywhere else. Especially in areas like Russia, Africa, India, and parts of Asia. In 1979, an abnormal outbreak of anthrax appeared in Sverdlovsk, USSR (The National Security Archive, 2001). Reports of this outbreak were released a year later by the USSR, claiming the outbreak was naturally occurring in livestock. This would explain the 96 cases of Anthrax in humans, which killed 64 people died from gastrointestinal anthrax (CDC, 2016). The real causation of this outbreak was a military biologic facility, which leaked out anthrax spores through the air (The National Security Archive, …show more content…
For cutaneous anthrax, symptoms will start 1 to 7 days after being exposed. An itchy sore will be created, and may even blister and form a black ulcer. Even though a sore is formed, it is usually painless, but there will swelling around the sore (MedlinePlus, 2016). Inhalation anthrax symptoms can include a cough, body aches, sweats, vomiting or stomach pains, chest discomfort, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, extreme tiredness, and fever and chills (CDC, 2014). Finally, gastrointestinal anthrax symptoms can include a fever, mouth sores, vomiting that may contain blood, abdominal pain, and diarrhea that may contain blood. These symptoms usually shows within a week (MedlinePlus, 2016). In 1876, Robert Koch was triggered to find the cause of anthrax because there was an epidemic of farm animals. When first experimenting, he used slivers of wood to infuse healthy mice with splenic tissue from an infected cow. This procedure would be done by their tails (Chu, ?). By performing this experiment, he was able to describe how the microbe he injected into the animal caused the disease. Also, he discovered the life cycle of the anthrax bacteria. Koch used anthrax to help him demonstrate and develop Koch’s postulates (CDC,