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Anthrax

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Bacterial Infections of Humans

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Anthrax, a zoonotic disease of herbivorous animals transmissible from animals to man, occurs primarily in three forms: cutaneous, inhalational, and gastrointestinal. Meningitis and septicemia occur but are secondary to one of the primary forms; occasionally, cases of anthrax meningitis are reported in which a primary focus is not identified. The etiologic agent is Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive organism that in its spore form can persist in nature for prolonged periods, possibly years. The incidence of anthrax has decreased over the past 70 years, so that currently, human cases are seen only occasionally in the United States, where reporting is probably fairly accurate. Synonyms for anthrax include charbon, malignant pustule, Siberian ulcer, malignant edema, woolsorter’s disease, and ragpicker’s disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 30322, USA

    Philip S. Brachman

  2. 2155 Mountclaire Ct, Stone Mountain, GA 30087-1335

    Arnold F. Kaufmann

  3. Atlanta, Georgia, 30087, USA (Retired)

    Arnold F. Kaufmann

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  1. Philip S. Brachman
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Clifton Road NE., 1518, Atlanta, 30322, U.S.A.

    Philip S. Brachman

  2. College of Medicine, Office of Faculty Affairs, Drexel University, Race Street 1505, Philadelphia, 19102, U.S.A.

    Elias Abrutyn

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Brachman, P.S., Kaufmann, A.F. (2009). Anthrax. In: Brachman, P., Abrutyn, E. (eds) Bacterial Infections of Humans. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-09843-2_5

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