Suspect vector transmission of human cutaneous anthrax during an animal outbreak in Southern Italy

Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis. 2013 Oct;13(10):769-71. doi: 10.1089/vbz.2013.1302. Epub 2013 Jun 29.

Abstract

During an outbreak of sheep anthrax in Basilicata, southern Italy, the owner of a flock located about 3 km away from the affected farm developed skin lesions attributable to cutaneous anthrax. The DNA extracted from the human scabs confirmed the diagnosis, and a 15-loci multiple locus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) following single-nucleotide repeat (SNR) analysis yielded the same genotype as that found in the dead sheep. The breeder, who had not had contact with infected or dead animals, reported having been stung by gadflies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthrax / epidemiology
  • Anthrax / microbiology
  • Anthrax / transmission*
  • Bacillus anthracis / genetics
  • Bacillus anthracis / isolation & purification*
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Minisatellite Repeats / genetics
  • Sheep
  • Sheep Diseases / epidemiology
  • Sheep Diseases / microbiology
  • Sheep Diseases / transmission*
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Skin Diseases, Bacterial / transmission*
  • Zoonoses

Supplementary concepts

  • Cutaneous anthrax