**3.3 Anthrax**

*Bacterial Cattle Diseases*

**2. Materials and methods**

**2.1 Cycle and routes of infection**

times called the chain of infection.

**3. Results and discussion**

reduces infection from within the farm.

**3.1** *Bovine tuberculosis*

ing the epidemiology of infectious diseases.

control measures that should be taken on a specific disease.

of bacterial diseases between animals in the farm, how to make the animals resist

A *microbial agent* is a microorganism that is capable to cause disease in animal. *Pathogenicity* is the capability to induce disease in an animal. Pathogenic bacteria express their pathological effect by means of their *infectious aggressiveness* (*virulence*), a term which refers to the level of pathogenicity of the microbial organism. Hence, the factors of virulence of a pathogen are any of its genome, biochemical characters, and structure that give the ability to induce disease in an animal. Domestic livestock have always suffered from a wide range of bacterial diseases. As livestock are concentrated

in larger numbers, the problems of major epidemic have become more severe.

The epidemiologic triangle (triad model) explains that infectious diseases are produced from the interaction of a causative agent, susceptible animal (host), and environmental surrounding. More attentionally, transmission of the causative agent results when the agent leaves its animal (*host* or *reservoir*) through a way of escape (portal of exit), is produced by some *means of transmission*, and enters through a specific entrance (portal *of entry*) to infect a *susceptible animal*. This cycle is some-

When speaking of infectious diseases, *exposure* assumes a tailored meaning, namely, encountering the infectious agent in a fashion that allows for agent transmission. Therefore, knowledge of transmission mechanisms is vital for understand-

This chapter is focused on major bacterial diseases that can cause significant loss or concern for dairy cattle, beef rearing, and fattening enterprises, as well as practical steps that can be taken to prevent the occurrence of such diseases and regulatory

*Bovine tuberculosis* is a chronic bacterial disease of cattle that sometimes affects other mammalian species. This disease is a major animal disease that can be transmitted to humans, usually by inhaling aerosol or ingestion of unpasteurized milk. The model strategy for the control of diseases in domestic animals includes regular field trials, quarantine, and sanitary wards for infected herds [4]. This prevents the spread of the disease outside the population, while slaughtering infected animals

A system of control for the tuberculosis disease in cattle (TB) is by the examination of cattle, which includes slaughtering positive animals (system of test and slaughter) along with the isolation of herds and inducing herd immunization against the disease by vaccination [5]. The health state of the herd is represented by integrating mathematical formulations that express the period of herd quarantine (isolation). The system of TB control in New Zealand can be applied and used as an example (vaccination as control strategy). The induction of such system suggests that vaccine efficacy is more than 95%, reaching 95% of target TB levels within

the disease, and the treatment of infected animals.

**4**

Anthrax is caused by *Bacillus anthracis*, a spore and a gram-positive rod in the Bacillaceae family. The anthrax is completely malignant with plasmid pX01, which denotes the trioxide complex of the protein, and pX02, which encodes the capsule genes. *B. anthracis* is very homogenous genetically. However, researchers identified several genetically distinct groups that appear to be derived from cloned animals. Some of these clones are distributed worldwide, while others are in limited geographical areas [1, 5].

Infection is usually acquired through the ingestion of contaminated soil, feed, or mixed fodder. Anthrax spores in soil are very resistant and can cause disease when ingested even after years of outbreaks, the spores are brought to the surface due to wet weather or by deep tillage. When the disease appears or is inhaled by ruminants, the disease appears. In the event of an outbreak, the bodies of succumbed animals should be buried or burned properly and the carcass or body forbidden be open (because exposure to air results in forming spores). The buildings, region, or houses should be put under quarantine until all susceptible animals are vaccinated.

A prophylactic measure by vaccination in endemic areas is utmost significant. In spite of vaccination seeming to prevent outbreaks, veterinary authorities may forget to vaccinate susceptible animals when the disease does not occur for several years (spores of the anthrax stay alive for long intervals), so the risk is always present. Anthrax disease is recorded in the list of the World Health Organization (WHO), Animal Health Code (OIE), 2011, (Article 1.2.3) and must be reported to the OIE (Chapter 1.1.2—Disease Notification and Epidemiological Information).
