Bacillus Anthracis

Most people have heard of anthrax; it has been used as a biological weapon and a scare tactic in terrorism attacks during the early 2000s. Anthrax, caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis, is an extremely infectious disease, and can prove fatal for horses (or humans, for that matter). There are legal ramifications surrounding anthrax, and when diagnosed, one is obligated by law to report it to the appropriate government agency.

Anthrax can be a scary thing, but it is important for every horse owner to know the signs because if it is left untreated, it can infect humans.

Symptoms and Types

Acute (rapid onset and/or short course) Form:

• Depression
• Chills
• Difficulty breathing
• Abnormally high body temperature
• Disorientation
• Muscle spasms
• Death

Chronic (persistent or long-lasting) Form:

• Colic
• Enlarged spleen
• Swelling in the throat
• Discharge from nose or mouth
• Blood in mucous

Causes

Anthrax does not spread from animal-to-animal contact. It does, however, spread through the ingestion of contaminated soil, food, and drink.

Diagnosis

In order to diagnose anthrax, your veterinarian may take a sample from your horse’s skin or hair, generally testing the blood or bodily fluids to make a final determination. In most cases, anthrax is diagnosed upon the animal's death, as it is highly toxic and often works very fast.

Treatment

Because anthrax normally results in the death of the horse, treatment options are limited.

Prevention

You cannot vaccinate your horse against anthrax. However, properly disposing infected remains, and never slaughtering anthrax ridden or suspicious meat, may help prevent the disease from spreading further.