Bacillus anthracis is a rod-shaped, gram-positive bacteria that forms spores and capsules. It grows rapidly on culture media to form non-pigmented, dry, irregular colonies resembling a Medusa head. Symptoms of anthrax infection can include fever, chills, cough, chest pain, and gastrointestinal issues. Diagnosis involves gram staining, testing infected tissues, blood tests, imaging, and lumbar puncture. Treatment depends on the type of infection but generally involves a 7-10 day course of ciprofloxacin, penicillin, or doxycycline.

3. BACILLUS ANTHRACIS
Bacillus means little rod and
anthracis means coal . So bacillus
anthracis is a rod shaped bacteria .

4. MORPHOLOGY
 A Large
 Aerobic culture
 Spore forming
 Gram positive
 Rod shaped microorganism
 Capsule
 Non motile
 Microorganism growing chain
 Non acid fast

5. CULTURE CHARACTERISTICS
On Blood agar, the colonies are nonhemolytic
A selective medium [PLET Medium] consisting of
Polmyxin, Lysozyme, Ethylene Diamine Tetra
acetic acid [EDTA] and thallons acatate added to
heart infusion agar has been to isolate B anthracis
from mixture containing other spore bearing
bacilli.

6. COLONY CHARACTERISTICs
Rapidly – growing colonies 2-5mm overnight at 35c
.Non-pigmented dry ground glass surface. Flat or
slightly convex irregular edges with comma
projections [Medusa head] sticky[Tenacious]
consistency… colonies are not hemolytic on sheep
blood agar

8. DIAGNOSIS:
Gram staining[gram positive]
Test of infected skin/skin sores
Blood testing
CT scans and chest x –ray
Lumbar puncture[Spinal tap]
Endoscopic of the intestine and throat

11. SYMPTOMS
Fever and chills
 Chest discomfort
 Shortness of breath
 Confusion of dizziness
Cough
 Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
 Headache
 Sweats

12. TREATMENT
Cutaneous /gastrointestianl anthrax
 Ciprofloxacin, penicilin or doxycycline are
the drugs of choice, usually given for 7-10 days.
The duration of therapy for gastrointestinal
anthrax is not well defined.
If the case is associated with a bio- terrorist
attacking involving aerosolised anthrax where
the risk in high, ciprofloxacin or doxycycline are
recommended and should be given for at least to
days.