Astrointestinal Anthrax - A rare case report

Abstract

Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection of the skin, lungs or gastrointestinal tract caused by the spore forming bacterium B. anthracis. It is a disease of herbivores and  humans become infected through contact with, inhalation or ingestion of B. anthracis spores from infected animals.  Gastrointestinal anthrax is an uncommon presentation of bacillus anthracis infection resulting from ingestion of                undercooked meat of infected animals. This form of the  disease has a fatal course as diagnosis is often difficult.  Virulence of this organism is attributed to edema factor (EF), lethal factor (LF), protective antigen and anti-phagocytic  factors. Gastrointestinal system (GIS) anthrax can present with predominant oropharyngeal symptoms or lower  gastrointestinal symptoms. Early onset of sepsis and  suppression of cell mediated immunity accounts for the high fatality rate. Prompt diagnosis with initiation of appropriate antibiotics results in better outcome. We present here the case report of a forty seven year old farmer diagnosed with gastrointestinal anthrax.