Gastrointestinal and cutaneous anthrax: Case series.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Anthrax, a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, affects herbivorous animals and is increasingly relevant due to bioterrorism concerns.
• While incidence is decreasing globally, anthrax remains a concern in livestock-breeding regions.
• Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive, aerobic/facultative anaerobic, non-motile bacterium with a polypeptide capsule.

Observation:

• A case series in Trabzon, Turkey, reported three anthrax cases in February 2018 following the consumption of infected cow meat.
• One patient developed fatal gastrointestinal anthrax and sepsis after eating contaminated meat; blood cultures were positive.
• Two other cases contracted cutaneous anthrax through contact with the deceased patient and the infected animal/meat, respectively.

Findings:

• Gastrointestinal anthrax and sepsis occurred in a patient who consumed infected meat, leading to a fatal outcome.
• Cutaneous anthrax was diagnosed in two cases following animal contact and meat consumption.
• Doxycycline treatment was effective in resolving cutaneous anthrax cases without complications.

Implications:

• This case series underscores the importance of considering anthrax in differential diagnoses, especially in livestock-heavy areas.
• It highlights the potential for severe outcomes like gastrointestinal anthrax and sepsis from consuming contaminated meat.
• The successful treatment of cutaneous anthrax with doxycycline emphasizes the need for prompt diagnosis and management.