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Three rare cases of anthrax arising from the same source

Farhang Babamahmoodi1, Fereshteh Aghabarari, Abbas Arjmand

  • 1Department of Infectious Disease, Sari School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, 48168 Sari, Iran.

The Journal of Infection
|January 31, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Three family members contracted rare forms of anthrax (gastrointestinal, oropharyngeal, meningitis) after eating contaminated sheep meat. This highlights the importance of considering anthrax in endemic areas.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Bacteriology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis.
  • Human infection typically occurs through contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products.
  • Cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95% of cases, while respiratory anthrax is 5%.

Observation:

  • Gastrointestinal anthrax is rare (<1% of cases), and anthrax meningitis is a rare complication.
  • Three rare cases of anthrax (gastrointestinal, oropharyngeal, and meningitis) occurred in a single family from the same source.
  • Patients presented with distinct clinical symptoms after consuming undercooked meat from a sick sheep.

Findings:

  • The study details three concurrent, rare presentations of anthrax within one family.
  • Ingestion of contaminated meat was identified as the source of infection.
  • The cases demonstrate varied clinical manifestations of Bacillus anthracis infection.

Implications:

  • These cases underscore the need for heightened clinical suspicion of anthrax in endemic regions.
  • Awareness of anthrax is crucial for differential diagnosis, especially with unusual presentations.
  • Proper food handling and animal husbandry practices are vital for preventing anthrax transmission.

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