Anthrax

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Epidemiology - Diagnosis

Methods of Diagnosis

  • measurement of antibody titers to protective antigen and capsule antigens by ELISA 
  • polymerase chain reaction: amplify two markers (vrrA and Ba813) specific to B.anthracis. 
  • standard blood culture: shows growth in 6 to 24 hours
  • presence of a widened mediastinum on chest radiograph
  • detection of gram-positive bacilli on unspun peripheral blood smear
  • gram stain and culture of vesicular fluid (if cutaneous anthrax)
  • anthraxin skin test: subdermal injection of chemical extract of an attenuated strain of B.anthracis.
(6 and 7)

Contact your local or state health department at the first suspicion of an anthrax illness.