Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis; a spore-forming bacteria naturally found in soil. It affects all warm-blooded animals, particularly herbivores. Other Bacillus sp such as Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis that carry plasmid that encodes for anthrax toxins similar to those found in B. anthracis, can also cause the disease. Humans are secondarily infected through contact with infected animals, contaminated animal products (e.g., meat, wool or hides), or, rarely, from injection drug use.
Bacillus anthracis causes anthrax through a combination of bacterial infection and toxin expression once they germinate within the host cell. The toxins . . .
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