
Anthrax is a severe infectious disease caused by spores of a gram-positive bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. It generally infects through four routes viz. the lungs, the intestines, the skin, and injectable. Anthrax affects both humans and animals, especially ruminants such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. It does not easily spread from one person to another. Signs and symptoms of anthrax vary depending on the type of infection. Cutaneous anthrax, gastrointestinal anthrax, inhalation anthrax, and injection anthrax have different symptoms. Common symptoms of cutaneous anthrax include rashes that are swollen, sore, and itchy. Nausea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, bloody diarrhea, swollen neck, headache, and difficulty swallowing are most common signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal anthrax. Shortness of breath, coughing up blood, painful swallowing, mild chest discomfort, and nausea are symptoms of inhalation anthrax. Multiple organ failure, meningitis, and redness at the area of injection are the most common signs and symptoms of injection anthrax. Currently, two key methods are available to diagnose anthrax globally that utilizes the presence/absence of either antibodies or toxins in the patient's blood sample. Moreover, healthcare specialists also recommended to use direct tests for diagnosing the presence of Bacillus anthracis in the sample (skin lesion swab, respiratory secretions, blood, and spinal fluid). Cell-free PA vaccines and live vaccines are available in the market for Anthrax vaccines.