Periocular cutaneous anthrax in Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia: a case series

Gelaw, Yeshigeta; Asaminew, Tsedeke

doi:10.1186/1756-0500-6-313

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Because of its wide distribution and its potential use for bioterrorism, anthrax is considered as a global public health threat [ 6 ]. Concerns have been heightened by the persistent existence of human anthrax cases and outbreaks across continents in recent years, e.g., Zambia, Zimbabwe and Ethiopia in Africa [ 7 – 9 ], India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Georgia in Asia [ 10 – 14 ], and Turkey, Greece and Serbia in Europe [ 15 – 17 ]. In addition, the emergence of “injectional anthrax” among heroin users in Europe highlights the possibility of new routes for the spread of human anthrax [ 18 , 19 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the Distribution of Anthrax in Mainland China, 2005–2013

Chen¹,

Lai²,

Yang³

et al. 2016

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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BackgroundAnthrax, a global re-emerging zoonotic disease in recent years is enzootic in mainland China. Despite its significance to the public health, spatiotemporal distributions of the disease in human and livestock and its potential driving factors remain poorly understood.Methodology/Principal FindingsUsing the national surveillance data of human and livestock anthrax from 2005 to 2013, we conducted a retrospective epidemiological study and risk assessment of anthrax in mainland China. The potential determinants for the temporal and spatial distributions of human anthrax were also explored. We found that the majority of human anthrax cases were located in six provinces in western and northeastern China, and five clustering areas with higher incidences were identified. The disease mostly peaked in July or August, and males aged 30–49 years had higher incidence than other subgroups. Monthly incidence of human anthrax was positively correlated with monthly average temperature, relative humidity and monthly accumulative rainfall with lags of 0–2 months. A boosted regression trees (BRT) model at the county level reveals that densities of cattle, sheep and human, coverage of meadow, coverage of typical grassland, elevation, coverage of topsoil with pH > 6.1, concentration of organic carbon in topsoil, and the meteorological factors have contributed substantially to the spatial distribution of the disease. The model-predicted probability of occurrence of human cases in mainland China was mapped at the county level.Conclusions/SignificanceAnthrax in China was characterized by significant seasonality and spatial clustering. The spatial distribution of human anthrax was largely driven by livestock husbandry, human density, land cover, elevation, topsoil features and climate. Enhanced surveillance and intervention for livestock and human anthrax in the high-risk regions, particularly on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, is the key to the prevention of human infections.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping the Distribution of Anthrax in Mainland China, 2005–2013

Chen¹,

Lai²,

Yang³

et al. 2016

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

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“…As the first step in the country's engagement in the Global Health Security Agenda, a zoonotic disease workshop identified five priority zoonotic diseases of mutual concern for animal and human health agencies: rabies, anthrax, brucellosis, leptospirosis, and echinococcosis [7]. Cutaneous anthrax mostly occurs on areas of exposed skin, with the face, neck, eyelid, and forearms constituting the most common infection sites [3,4]. When B. anthracis vegetative cells are exposed to air, they become spores that are highly resistant to both heat and to most disinfectants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The early symptoms of gastrointestinal and inhalational anthrax can be nonspecific and mistaken for less serious conditions [3,4], patients therefore often present with an advanced infection that can be highly lethal. However, the most common form by far of the disease is cutaneous, accounting for about 95% of cases, and its early stages are distinctly recognizable.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnosis of cutaneous anthrax in resource-poor settings in West Arsi Province, Ethiopia

Pérez‐Tanoira¹,

Ramos

Prieto-Pérez³

et al. 2017

Ann Agric Environ Med.

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Introduction. Cutaneous anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis, which typically presents with ulcers after contact with animals or animal products, and is rarely seen in high-income countries but is common in those with low-and middle-incomes. Objective. The aim of this study is to show the main clinical characteristics of cutaneous anthrax in endemic areas. Materials and method. The study describes the main clinical characteristics of cutaneous anthrax in eight patients (six female and two male, age range 1 -56 years) admitted to the rural General Hospital of Gambo, West Arsi Province of Ethiopia from 2010-2013. Results. In all cases, lesions began as an erythematous papule located on exposed sites (n=7 head; n=1 thigh) and subsequently became a necrotic black eschar surrounded by an edematous halo. Two patients presented with painful ipsilateral adenopathy near the black eschar. Four patients developed a malignant pustule on the suborbital region of the face. Patients responded positively to treatment, and the lesions resolved, leaving eschars. However, one patient suffered the loss of an eyeball, and another died 12 hours after starting treatment. Conclusions. Physicians working in rural areas of resource-poor settings should be trained in the clinical identification of cutaneous anthrax. Early antibiotic treatment is essential for decreasing morbidity and mortality.

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“…Anthrax infection begins as an erythematous patch that enlarges and becomes a papule with fine tight shiny yellow or pink vesicles accompanied by edema and eventually progresses to necrosis. Prior contact with animals is an important piece of information to help formulate the diagnosis ( Gelaw and Asaminew, 2013 ). The diagnosis is clinical and supported by Gram stains from an imprint smear and culture.…”

Section: Infectionsmentioning

confidence: 99%