Final answer:
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, affecting both animals and humans. It can be transmitted through skin contact or inhalation of spores, with severe symptoms including edema, hypoxia, and necrosis. The resilience of B. anthracis spores makes it a potent biological weapon, as evidenced by the 2001 bioterrorism attacks.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term Anthrax refers to a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium is a gram-positive, endospore-forming, and facultative anaerobe. Anthrax primarily affects livestock but can also infect humans, often through contact with infected animals or their products such as wool or hides. The spores of B. anthracis can be found in soil and are highly resilient, capable of surviving for long periods, which contributes to the disease's persistence and potential for use as a biological weapon.
There are different forms of anthrax, depending on the route of transmission. Cutaneous anthrax, the most common form, involves the skin and can lead to septicemia if untreated. Inhalation anthrax, also known as pulmonary anthrax, is a more severe form and poses high mortality rates. Bacterial spores inhaled into the lungs can lead to systemic infection, causing symptoms such as fever, difficulty breathing, and chest pains. The production of potent toxins by the bacteria, like lethal toxin (LeTX) and edema toxin (EdTX), results in edema, hypoxia, and necrosis leading to organ failure or death.
In 2001, B. anthracis garnered significant attention due to its use in a bioterrorism attack in the United States, where anthrax spores were sent via mail to media and government offices, causing several cases of cutaneous and inhalation anthrax and resulting in fatalities.