Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
Search in pages
Filter by Categories
15th National Conference of the IAOMFP, Chennai, 2006
Abstract
Abstracts from current literature
Acne in India: Guidelines for management - IAA Consensus Document
Addendum
Announcement
Art & Psychiatry
Article
Articles
Association Activities
Association Notes
Award Article
Book Review
Brief Report
Case Analysis
Case Letter
Case Letters
Case Notes
Case Report
Case Reports
Clinical and Laboratory Investigations
Clinical Article
Clinical Studies
Clinical Study
Commentary
Conference Oration
Conference Summary
Continuing Medical Education
Correspondence
Corrigendum
Cosmetic Dermatology
Cosmetology
Current Best Evidence
Current Issue
Current View
Derma Quest
Dermato Surgery
Dermatopathology
Dermatosurgery Specials
Dispensing Pearl
Do you know?
Drug Dialogues
e-IJDVL
Editor Speaks
Editorial
Editorial Remarks
Editorial Report
Editorial Report - 2007
Editorial report for 2004-2005
Errata
Erratum
Focus
Fourth All India Conference Programme
From Our Book Shelf
From the Desk of Chief Editor
General
Get Set for Net
Get set for the net
Guest Article
Guest Editorial
History
How I Manage?
IADVL Announcement
IADVL Announcements
IJDVL Awards
IJDVL AWARDS 2015
IJDVL Awards 2018
IJDVL Awards 2019
IJDVL Awards 2020
IJDVL International Awards 2018
Images in Clinical Practice
In Memorium
Inaugural Address
Index
Knowledge From World Contemporaries
Leprosy Section
Letter in Response to Previous Publication
Letter to Editor
Letter to the Editor
Letter to the Editor - Case Letter
Letter to the Editor - Letter in Response to Published Article
LETTER TO THE EDITOR - LETTERS IN RESPONSE TO PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Letter to the Editor - Observation Letter
Letter to the Editor - Study Letter
Letter to the Editor - Therapy Letter
Letter to the Editor: Articles in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters in Response to Previous Publication
Letters to the Editor
Letters to the Editor - Letter in Response to Previously Published Articles
Letters to the Editor: Case Letters
Letters to the Editor: Letters in Response to Previously Published Articles
Medicolegal Window
Messages
Miscellaneous Letter
Musings
Net Case
Net case report
Net Image
Net Images
Net Letter
Net Quiz
Net Study
New Preparations
News
News & Views
Obituary
Observation Letter
Observation Letters
Oration
Original Article
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTION
Original Contributions
Pattern of Skin Diseases
Pearls
Pediatric Dermatology
Pediatric Rounds
Perspective
Presedential Address
Presidential Address
Presidents Remarks
Quiz
Recommendations
Regret
Report
Report of chief editor
Report of Hon : Treasurer IADVL
Report of Hon. General Secretary IADVL
Research Methdology
Research Methodology
Resident page
Resident's Page
Resident’s Page
Residents' Corner
Residents' Corner
Residents' Page
Retraction
Review
Review Article
Review Articles
Reviewers 2022
Revision Corner
Self Assessment Programme
SEMINAR
Seminar: Chronic Arsenicosis in India
Seminar: HIV Infection
Short Communication
Short Communications
Short Report
Snippets
Special Article
Specialty Interface
Studies
Study Letter
Study Letters
Supplement-Photoprotection
Supplement-Psoriasis
Symposium - Contact Dermatitis
Symposium - Lasers
Symposium - Pediatric Dermatoses
Symposium - Psoriasis
Symposium - Vesicobullous Disorders
SYMPOSIUM - VITILIGO
Symposium Aesthetic Surgery
Symposium Dermatopathology
Symposium-Hair Disorders
Symposium-Nails Part I
Symposium-Nails-Part II
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Tables
Technology
Therapeutic Guideline-IADVL
Therapeutic Guidelines
Therapeutic Guidelines - IADVL
Therapeutics
Therapy
Therapy Letter
Therapy Letters
View Point
Viewpoint
What’s new in Dermatology

Translate this page into:

Continuing Medical Education
2002:68:6;316-319
PMID: 17656987

Cutaneous anthrax: An Indian perspective

Devinder Mohan Thappa, Kaliaperumal Karthikeyan
 Department of Dermatology and STD, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry - 605 006, India

Correspondence Address:
Devinder Mohan Thappa
Department of Dermatology and STD, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Pondicherry - 605 006
India
How to cite this article:
Thappa DM, Karthikeyan K. Cutaneous anthrax: An Indian perspective. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol 2002;68:316-319
Copyright: (C)2002 Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology, and Leprology

Introduction

Anthrax, a toxigenic zoonosis of herbivorous animals in which humans are an incidental host, usually manifests in cutaneous form in man.[1] Though, the disease has become rare, endemic outbreaks occur in tropical countries, parts of South America, Europe where veterinary control of livestock is marginal and environmental conditions favour an animal-soil-animal cycle.[1],[2]

Many species of animals can be infected with Bacillus anthracis either natural or experimentally.[3] There is little doubt that the most important source of the infection is domestic herbivores. These species-cattle, sheep, horses, and goats- appear to be most susceptible to natural infection, whereas pigs and dogs, like humans, can be infected only when exposed to relatively large numbers of spores. Infection in most domestic species arises chiefty by ingestion of spores. A characteristic of anthrax in animals is the inability of blood to clot, as demonstrated by blood draining from the natural orifices of dead animals and skinned carcasses; this further increases soil contamination, the source of infection for animals. [3],[4]

Sources of infection

Human disease is most likely to occur in endemic regions by direct contact with infected carcasses.[5],[6],[7] Industrial cases may occur anywhere and reflect exposure to imported animal carcass products, such as bone meal (Which is used for making glues or fertilizer), hair, or hedes. Humans acquire infection by direct inoculation of spores through breaks in the skin, by inhalation of spores (generated during the early stage of cleaning contaminated goat hair), or by ingestion of contaminated meat. There may be some person-to person spread in peculiar circumstances. Direct abdomen to abdomen contact was resposible for the acquisition of infection in one of our child, the other child might have aquired the infection as a result of insect. [8] An outbreak in the Gambia was in part traced to the use of communal loofahs when bathing, and in the UK and Russia shaving brushes have been a source. [5] During the recent outbreak of anthrax in Zimbabwe and India, there were numerous anecdotal reports of human cutaneous anthrax associated with "fly bites".[9],[10],[11],[12],[13],[14],[15],[16],[17],[18]

Epidemiology of human anthrax in In-dia

In the developed nations, anthrax has all but disappeared. However, in India, which has got the largest population of livestock in the world, the disease is still endemic. [19] Seventy percent of its population is living in the villages, majority are dependent on livestock for their livelihood. Moreover, a large number of people working in the tanneries and leather industries have a chance of getting infected. [20]

The incidence of anthrax in animals and in man throughout India is not known accurately due to the fact that a large number of cases go unreported and only a fraction of human cases receive medical attention in a hospital. [20] Cases treated " on site" in a village are hardly ever brought to the notice of the authorities. Hence, the true incidence of anthrax in man is likely to be higher than reported in the literature. Detailed information collected from three Southern Indian states, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have confirmed the endemicity of anthrax.

During the last two decades, about 70 cases of human anthrax have been encountered at Christian Medical College, Vellore, of which 26 cases had cutaneous anthrax. [21] A review of Indian literature in 1996, has found 112 cases of anthrax (71 cutaneous anthrax cases) in places other than Vellore. [20] We have recorded a series of 17 cases of cutaneous anthrax between July 1998 to September 2000 at JIPMER hospital, Pondicherry[8],[15],[16],[17] and an additional 6 cases till July 2001. [18] Date obtained from Animal Husbandry Department and Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary Sciences at Pondicherry revealed endemic outbreaks of anthrax amongst cattle′s, goats, sheep etc in Pondicherry and adjoining, Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu state for last 2 years (personal communication). Infected dying animals had bleeding from various orifices and characteristic splenomegaly.

Microbiology of B. anthracis

B. anthracis is a large, non-motile, brick-shaped, Gram-positive organism (2. 5x10mm), which occurs singly or in pairs in tissue. [1],[20] The so-called classical "boxcal" apperance of long strings of bacilli is seen only in culture. On methylene blue staining, the bacterial cell is stained blue, whereas the surrounding capsule is pink. This is described as the M′ Fadyean reaction. B. anthracis has the capacity to produce heat-and dry-resistant spores under adverse conditions.

The organism grows well on blood agar plates. Individual colonies are stickly and stand up in stalegmite-like forms when they are lifted or touched with a bacteriologic loop. [2] All the virulent strains of the bacillus are pathogenic for mice.

Pathogenesis

Locally, at the site of inoculation in the skin, pharynx, or intestine, low-level germination, growth, and production of exotoxins by the organisms result in extensive tissue edema and tissue necrosis due to vascular thrombosis. [22] In cutaneous anthrax, occasionally massive edema may result in hemoconcentration and hypotension. [23] In a small number of cases, systemic anthrax can lead to meningeal involvement by means of lymphatic or hematogenous spread. [4]

Clinical features

Anthrax occurs in three clinical forms in humans: 1) cutaneous anthrax due to direct contact with contaminated meat, carcasses, hides, hair, wool or bone, 2) inhalational anthrax (Woolsorter′s disease)due to inhalation of spores and 3) gastrointestinal anthrax due to ingestion of contaminated meat or milk. Anthrax meningitis occurs secondary to skin lesions, but it can complicate the other two forms also. [1],[4] Cutaneous anthrax accounts for 95% of all anthrax infections. More than 90% of lesions occur in exposed areas, such as the face, neck, arms, or hands. [4],[22] In children, cutaneous anthrax is more common on the head and neck. [1],[17] This may be due to deposition of spores and bacilli on abrasions by houselifes and vectorborne transmission by blood sucking insects (mosquitoes and stable flies). [1],[3]

Cutaneous anthrax usually begins as a painless, pruritic paplue within 3 to 10 days of inoculation. It rapidly progresses into a serous serosanguineous vesicles, which ulcerate with a central black eschar (Greek anthrakos-col), surrounded by a ring of vesicles within 36 hours [Figure - 1]. Perilesional oedema can be extensive [Figure - 2]. Toxic features occur in 50% of cases only and healing occurs in 1 to 3 weeks with variable scarring. [1],[4] The disease may progress to regional lymph nodes leading to large swelling of the submandibular, preauricular axillary, or groin areas and rarely to septicemia. [4]

Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, is usually curable. On the other hand, the early clinical diagnosis of inhalational anthrax and intestinal anthrax is often diffcult. The outcome of these forms of the disease is usually fatal.

Differential diagnosis and diagnosis

The lesion most commonly confused with cutaneous anthrax (malignant pustule) is vaccinia, which no longer exists. Milkers nodules contracted from the teats of the cow, are characterized by one or several brownish red dome shaped smooth or slightly, papillomatous vegetation (resemble pyogenic granulomas)which are generally confined to the hands and forearms. [4],[16] Orf (ecthtyma contagiosum) is a skin disease found usually in slaughterers or shepherds who may be in contact with sheep suffering from ecthyma contagiosum. A virus causes it and the appearance is more ragged and angry looking compared to the malignant pustule of anthrax. Moreover, Orf lacks the characteristic central eschar. Malignant pustule can be confused with a boil. However, a gram stained smear of the exudate from the lesion usually shows the bacilli if the case is anthrax. A painful pustular eschar in a febrile patient indicates a secondary infection, most often with staphylococcus or streptococcus. [4],[16]

The following clinical features if present are strongly suggestive of cutaneous anthrax. [2],[4]

1. The presence of edema out of proportion to the size of the lesion.

2. Lack of pain during the initial phases of the infection.

3. The rarity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes from vesicular fluid on gram′s stain.

The presence of typical bacilli in the gram′s stained smear from the ulcer and the epidemiological proof may be the only evidence in favor of your diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax, since culture of this organism from skin lesions yields positivity in 60 to 65 per cent of cases only, probably due to prior antibiotic therapy of the microbicidal activity of local antagonistic skin flora. [4]

There have been reports of clinical isolates of B. anthracis that are resistant to penicillin. [24],[25] Because of the potential for drug-resistant strains, including deliberately modified strains, antimicrobial susceptibility testing should be performed on all isolates. Several methods, such as specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blotting and indirect microhemagglutination, have been described for the serologic diagnosis of anthrax. [22] The anthraxin skin test, consisting of subdermal injection of a commercially produced chemical extract of an attenuated strain of B. anthracis, is available for the diagnosis of acute and previous cases of anthrax. [26] New diagnostic techniques focused on the use of the polymerase chain reaction may become useful in the near future, in the clinical setting, where early diagnosis is crucial. [22]

Treatment

Since 20% of untreated cases of cutaneous anthrax develop bacteraemia, which leads to rapid death, energetic treatment with penicillin G is recommended. [1],[4] Penicillin G, 12--24 million IU, is given intravenously daily in six divided does. Ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol are alternative drugs for penicillin-senstitive patients. Even if the patient is promptly treated with antimicrobial, cutaneous lesions will continue to progress through the eschar phase [Figure - 3]. In cases of extensive edema, meningitis, or swelling in the head and neck region, corticosteroid therapy should be initiated. [22]

Prevention of anthrax largely depends on the use of vaccines, as the widespread decontamination of contaminated soil is impractical. [4],[20]

Future challenges

A disease of great antiquity, anthrax occupies an important place in the history of infectious diseases because it was the first human disease to be attributed to a specific pathogen. It retains a certain fascination and notoriety partly because of the potential for use of the bacillus spores in biologic warfare. [4],[27]

References
1.
Edwards MS. Anthrax. In: Feign RD, Cherry JD (eds). Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 4th edn, Vol. 1, WB Saunders, Philadelphia 1998:1176-1179.
[Google Scholar]
2.
LaForce FM. Anthrax-State of the art clinical article. Clin Infect Dis 1994;19:1009-1013.
[Google Scholar]
3.
Smith IM. A brief review of anthrax in domestic animals. Postgrad MedJ 1973; 49:571-572.
[Google Scholar]
4.
Thappa DM, Karthikeyan K. Anthrax: An overview with the Indian subcontinent. Int J Dermatol 2001;40:216-222.
[Google Scholar]
5.
Scott G. Anthrax. In: Cook G, eds. Monsor s Tropical Diseases, 20th edn. London: EIBS with WB Saunders, 1996:914-917.
[Google Scholar]
6.
Chandrasekhar P, Singh RS, Sridhar MS, et al. Outbreak of human anthrax in Ramabbadrapuram Village of Chittor District of Andhara Pradesh. Indian J Med Res 1990; 91:448-452.
[Google Scholar]
7.
Gold H. Anthrax - a report of one hundred seventeen cases. Arch Intern Med 1995;96: 387- 396.
[Google Scholar]
8.
Thappa DM. Cutaneous anthrax in two siblings (letter to the editor), Indian J Pediatr 2001; 68:573-574.
[Google Scholar]
9.
Davies JCA. A major epidemic of anthrax in Zimbawe II. Distribution of cutaneous lesions. Cent Afr Med 1983;29:8-12.
[Google Scholar]
10.
Davies JCA. A major epidemic of anthrax in Zimbawe The experience at the Beatrice Road Infectious Disease Hospital, Harare. Cent Afr J Med 1985; 31: 176-180.
[Google Scholar]
11.
Tumer M. Anthrax in humans in Zimbabwe. Cent Afr Med 1980; 26:160-161.
[Google Scholar]
12.
Krishna Roo NS, Mohiyudeen S. Tabanus flies as transmitters of anthrax: a field experience. Indian Vet J 1958; 35;348-353.
[Google Scholar]
13.
Graham-Smith GS. Flies in Relation to Disease: Non Blood Sucking Flies. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1913: 180-209.
[Google Scholar]
14.
Turell MJ, Knudson GB. Mechanical transmission of Bacillus anthracis by stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) and mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes taeniorhychus). Infect Immun 1987;8: 1859-1861.
[Google Scholar]
15.
Thappa DM, Dava S, Karthikeyan K, et al . An outbreak of human anthrax: A report of 15 cases of cutaneous anthrax, Indian J Dermatol 2000; 45: 186-191.
[Google Scholar]
16.
Karthikeyan K, Bhattacharya S, Thappa DM, et al. Anthrax in an infant. Indian Pediatr 2001; 38: 777-779.
[Google Scholar]
17.
Vijoikumar M, Thappa DM, Jeevankumor B. Cutaneous anthraxstill a reality in India. Pediatr Dermatol 2001 (in press).
[Google Scholar]
18.
Bhatt F Mohan DN, Lalitha MK. Current incidence : An endemic outbreak in south India. J Trop Pediatr 2001 ( in press).
[Google Scholar]
19.
Bhatt P, Mohan DN, Lalitha MK. Current incidence of anthrax in animals and man in India, in: Proceedings of the International workshop on anthrax at Winchester, England, Salisbury Medical Bulletin, special supplement 1989; 68:8.
[Google Scholar]
20.
Lalitha MK, Kumar A. Anthrax-A continuing problem in southern India, Indian J Med Microbial 1996; 14:63-72.
[Google Scholar]
21.
Sarada D, Valentino GO, Lalitha MK. Cutaneous anthrax involving the eyelids. Indian J Med Microbial 1999; 17:92-95.
[Google Scholar]
22.
Dixon TC, Meseison M, Guillemin J, et al. Anthrax. N Engl J Med 1999; 341 (ii): 815-826.
[Google Scholar]
23.
Doganay M, Bakir M, Dokmetar I. A case of cutaneous anthrax with toxaemic shock. Br J Dermatol 1987; 117:659-662.
[Google Scholar]
24.
Bradari N, Punda-Polic V. Cutaneous anthrax due to penicillinresistant Bacillus anthrocis transmitted by an insect bite. Lancet 1992; 340: 306-307.
[Google Scholar]
25.
Lalitha MK, Thomas MK. Penicillin resistance in Bacillus anthracis. Lancet 1997;349:1522.
[Google Scholar]
26.
Shlyakhov E, Rubinstein E. Evaluation of the anthroxn skin test for diagnosis of acute and past human anthrax. Eur J Clin Microbial Infect Dis 1996; 15:242-245.
[Google Scholar]
27.
Penn CC, Klotz SA. Anthrax. In: Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR, eds. Infectious Diseases, 2nd edn. Philadelphia: WB Saunders, 1998:1575-1578.
[Google Scholar]
Show Sections