Abstract
The incidence of anthrax, caused by Bacillus anthracis, in human and animal population of Zambia has increased recently. In this study, 34 strains of Bacillus anthracis from soil, hippopotamuses and humans, isolated in the 2011 outbreak were analyzed using the multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis. The analysis revealed that a single anthrax clone may have been involved in the epidemic. Considering the cyclical nature of B. anthracis, a link could be established with anthrax spores in soil getting ingested by hippopotamuses, followed by human contact resulting into an animal-human epidemic. These data confirm the importance of molecular typing methods for in-depth epidemiological analyses of anthrax epidemics. Key words: Bacillus anthracis, hippopotamuses, variable number tandem repeat (VNTRs), epidemic, human.
Highlights
Bacillus anthracis is a zoonotic disease-causing agent for anthrax
Animals especially herbivores are mostly infected by oral ingestion of soil contaminated with anthrax spores, while humans are infected through contact with contaminated animal products (Spencer, 2003)
We analyzed 34 B. anthracis strains associated with a single anthrax epidemic in wildlife and human populations
Summary
Bacillus anthracis is a zoonotic disease-causing agent for anthrax. It is a spore forming bacterium that causes disease in wild and domestic animals (Koehler, 2002; Habrun et al, 2011). B. anthracis has a worldwide dissemination as it is easy to propagate and has a history of being used as an agent of bioterrorism (Gierczynski et al, 2009) With this background, it is important that the bacteria be identified and typed accurately in order to determine microbial forensics associated with disease and act appropriately in controlling the infection (Koehler, 2002). It is important that the bacteria be identified and typed accurately in order to determine microbial forensics associated with disease and act appropriately in controlling the infection (Koehler, 2002)
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