ABSTRACT

Anthrax, the ancient disease of animals and humans, has been extensively studied over several decades [4]. Details of the life cycle of the bacterium are well described. Spores are released into soil from carcasses of infected animals, and in the soil, vegetative spore growth occurs. Herbivores are commonly infected by grazing on contaminated land or ingesting contaminated feed. Carnivores and scavengers can

also be infected by feeding on an infected carcass before putrefaction occurs. Even wild animals in captivity are vulnerable, as demonstrated by an outbreak of anthrax that occurred in cheetahs after they were fed infected baboon meat [5]. Human infection generally occurs via the cutaneous or gastrointestinal route, following people handling infected animals or animal by-products or ingesting infected meat. The inhalational route is the most lethal and is the most likely in a warfare or terrorist attack.