Anthrax

Disease Basics and Provincial Control Program

Dr. Betty Althouse

Chief Veterinary Officer, Saskatchewan

What is anthrax?

• Bacterial disease – Bacillus anthracis

• Infectious not contagious – No spread animal-animal

– Environmental disease

• Acute deaths in a wide range of species including people

• Occurs worldwide; sporadic cases on Canadian prairies

Opened

O2

carcasses

Spores

bacteria

Drought or flooding

Grazing animal ingest spores

Spores in soil/vegetation

Anthrax Life Cycle

Anthrax survivability and spread

Spore factors Soil factors

Fomites

Post Mortem Signs

Found dead Bleeding from orifices

5 Non-clotting blood

Clinical signs- rarely seen

• Ruminants at greatest risk!

• Peracute to Acute

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Species differences

• Horses: – Acute – Two common clinical

forms- • Fever, depression, colic. • Ventral swellings

• Swine, cats, dogs: -Swelling in throat • death from asphyxiation.

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Post mortems on anthrax suspects?

Carcass side test option

Carcass side test (Navy test)

• ELISA antigen-capture kit- detects PA – Good for fresh carcasses-

less than 48 hours after death, best

Carcass Management

• IF YOU SUSPECT

ANTHRAX:

• Cover carcass with tarp after sampling or post-mortem to prevent scavenging.

• Spray with formalin as added deterrent.

• Temperature increase under plastic destroys vegetative bacteria.

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Shipping anthrax samples

• Transport of dangerous goods (TDG)

• Need to be certified

– (on line)

• Primary and secondary packaging

• Labelling

Shipping anthrax samples • Basic sample packaging (PDS website, under “resources”), or

http://pdsinc.ca/Portals/0/Sample%20Packaging%20Protocol.pdf

• In addition to basic sample packaging, high risk and/or zoonotic suspect samples need additional packaging.

• Once the sample has been packaged according to the specifications above then the package should be clearly labelled with an appropriate warning (e.g. ANTHRAX SUSPECT) and placed into yet another box.

• The laboratory requisition form should be placed in the outer box where it can easily be accessed prior to opening the inner box.

• Once laboratory staff open the outer box and can see that it is a high-risk sample, it can then be taken to a high-biosecurity location and handled with the appropriate protective equipment.

http://pdsinc.ca/Portals/0/Sample Packaging Protocol.pdfhttp://pdsinc.ca/Portals/0/Sample Packaging Protocol.pdfhttp://pdsinc.ca/Portals/0/Sample Packaging Protocol.pdf

Diagnosing Anthrax

– Bacterial Culture.

– Detection of genetic material from the bacteria – PCR.

– Microscopic exam - with special stains.

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Diagnosis made at PDS is considered to be positive

Confirmatory testing at Saskatchewan Disease Control Lab

Anthrax presents very little risk to humans with proper precautions.

• Clean coverall, boots (disposable makes for easier clean up), gloves.

• If spraying formaldehyde extra PPE required, including face mask with cartridge.

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Anthrax: Reportable and Notifiable disease

• Anthrax remains reportable under the federal Health of Animals Act. – Cases must be reported to a CFIA

veterinarian.

• Reporting to CFIA allows for reporting to the OIE

• Anthrax is a provincial Notifiable animal disease

– All lab confirmed or Navy kit positives are to be reported to the office of the CVO within 24 hours.

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Anthrax outbreaks Late June to September in

Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and sometimes Alberta.

Peak often associated with hot weather.

Areas often involved with flooding or soil disturbances.

Can involve high death losses: – Bison- higher losses.

No cases for 2 years and then 3 in SK in 8 months.

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Provincial program for anthrax control

Protect public health Protect animal health by assisting the affected producer

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Elements of Anthrax Control Program

Vaccination

• Prevents disease

Early detection

• Notification

• Free anthrax lab testing

Quarantine

• Vet inspector or designate

• Private veterinarians under contract act as inspector designates

Carcass Control

Vaccination

Elements of anthrax control

Early detection

• Regular pasture checks in the summer

• Producers should call their veterinarian for initial anthrax diagnosis.

Notification- office of the CVO within 24 hours

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Prevent

• Remove from source

• Vaccinate

Treat

• Consider antimicrobial treatment

Control

• QUARANTINE

• Movement tracing

• Epi questionnaire

Carcass managementl • Critical!

Disease Control

Carcass Management Cover entire head with heavy-

duty plastic bag

Plug body openings

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Burning

Pyre- using round bales

Incineration- using wood

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Want complete burn-

down to ash.

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•Burial • Disinfection

Anthrax • Will continue to occur throughout the prairies

• The role of veterinarians has changed! minimize further contamination and spread through:

• Early diagnosis.

• Vaccination and treatment advice.

Acting as provincial inspector designate: • quarantine, collect information, trace.

• provide carcass handling, disposal and

• disinfection advice.

• confirm carcass disposal.

• release quarantine.

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Roles for Veterinary Technologists

• Diagnostics – Navy test kits

• Management, proper storage, use, reporting • Shipping- can be sent to SDCL through local health facility

Proper packaging and shipping of samples

• Client communications – Information for producers package

• Disinfectants • Human health reminders- safety-PPE

• Clinic management • Contract, billing