A Review on Laboratory Investigation of Anthrax as Causative Infectious Disease and Future Perspectives

Anthrax is a zoonotic disease that is associated with herbivores and other domestic animals including humans. The causative agent of this disease is bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It is Gram positive, non-motile, anaerobic, spore forming bacterium living in soil. It can transmit in animals by entering spores in their bodies through skin, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. This can be passed into humans by improper handling and contact with infected animals. Symptoms of this disease are different in animals and humans according to the type of anthrax. It is diagnosed by different methods including differential and laboratory methods (PCR). It can be treated by vaccination and therapies that are described. Gastrointestinal anthrax occurs only after eating infected, undercooked meat. This review helpful to understand the anthrax disease, diagnosis and possible treatment.