1. Bacilius anthracis DON XAVIER N.D

2. MORPHOLOGY Non motile Non acid fast- resist decolourization by acid after staining with hot carbon fuchsin Gram positive Occur –singly or in short chains- bamboo stick appearance Capsule enclose entire chain When grown on agar with 0.05 – 0.5 penicillin for 3-6 hrs - “strings of pearl” appearance.

3. Ferment sugars( glucose, maltose) -form acid Catalase positive Vegetative form -destroyed by heat-56 o C for 30 minutes Spore- destroyed by Dry heat- 40 o C for 3 hrs, Steam- 40 o C for 5-20 mins Survive for weeks in Phenol Destroyed by 4% Potassium permanganate or by 2% formaldehyde

5. PATHOGENECITY TWO MAJOR FACTORS : CAPSULE – INHIBITS OPSONIZATION AND PHAGOCYTOSIS EXOTOXIN – HAVE THREE COMPONENTS 1.OEDEMA FACTOR : FACTOR I / EF 2.PROTECTIVE ANTIGEN : FACTOR II / PA 3.LETHAL FACTOR : FACTOR III / LF

8. LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS SPECIMENS SWABS,ASPIRATED FLUID OR PUS FROM MALIGNANT PUSTLES BACTERIAL DIAGNOSIS McFADYEAN’S REACTION BLOOD FILM + POLYCHROME METHYLENE BLUE FOR 10 – 12 SEC =BLUE BACILLI COVERED BY RED GRANULAR STAINED CAPSULE