Most people have heard of anthrax, especially since it has been used as a biological weapon and a scare tactic in terrorism attacks during the early 2000s. Anthrax is an infectious disease, and can prove fatal for cattle, horses and humans.
Anthrax deadly to cattle and horses
Although no horses or humans have been affected in the latest anthrax case, everyone should be aware of the disease and how it can be spread.
Although no horses or humans have been affected in the latest anthrax case, everyone should be aware of the disease and how it can be spread.
The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) says one deceased cow confirmed with Anthrax may explain the cause of death of 50 more cattle in Logan County, Colo. According to the CDA, one location has tested positive and adjacent ranchers have been notified. A spokesperson says no cattle left the location prior to quarantine and no cattle entered the food chain.
State veterinarian Keith Roehr, DVM, said in a release that the risk of infection is minimal outside the affected ranch. “We believe, at this point, that anthrax is confined to that specific premises," Roehr says. "Colorado has not had an anthrax case in 31 years, but anthrax outbreaks are not uncommon in the Western United States.”
In horses, anthrax may take either a pulmonary form with fever, muscle pain, respiratory distress, sweating, and shock-like symptoms, or it may take a gastrointestinal form with fever, colic, and bloody diarrhea. Common symptoms include septicemia, enteritis, and colic. Stricken animals may die within one to three days. Failure to achieve rigor mortis after death is common.
Characterized by a high fever, anthrax progresses rapidly. In addition to a high fever, horses are obviously sick and often have ventral edema. If the horse dies, the carcass will likely have dark blood oozing from the mouth, nostrils, and anus. .
Because anthrax is known as "the quick killer," diagnosis may be based on the clinical signs, but it is routine to confirm the presence of Bacillus anthracis from a blood sample or culture sent to a laboratory