Anthrax Italy

On 6 September 2016 Dr. Romano Marabelli, Chief Veterinary Officer, Secretary General, Ministry of Health, Rome - Italy, informed the OIE on an outbreak of anthrax in Prezza –( L’ Aquila) - Abruzzo. The National Reference Centre for Anthrax - Competing endogenous RNAs - (Ce.R.N.A.) confirmed its positivity, in 3 sheep affected animals, by bacteriological examination.

The applied measures were disinfection /disinfestation of infected places and the related official disposal of carcasses, by-products and waste.

The source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection is unknown or inconclusive.

Anthrax, also known as Carbonchio in Italy, is an infectious septicemic disease, which affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horse and human being. It is supported by Clostridium botulinum, named Bacillus Anthracis. The disease is in the list of 118 OIE multiple species diseases, infections and infestations.

Even though, this disease has almost been eliminated in other geographic areas, among animals species, these days there have been some cases of Anthrax in animal species, in Italy. There have also been some human cases now and then. In human being, infection occurs contacting infected animals, above all, in processing animal derivatives such as fur, leather, wool and bones, that’ s why Anthrax is widespread in agricultural areas, where this disease has been scattered in cattle. This disease distinguishes itself, by acute sudden septicemia and a quick lethal course. Sometimes, it can run with a chronic form with pustular lesions and temperature.