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Familial outbreak of agricultural anthrax in an area of Northern Italy

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Abstract

Three cases of cutaneous anthrax are reported which occurred in a farming family in northern Italy. Epidemiological studies revealed contact with an infected cow (delivery of a stillborn fetus and slaughter). The cow was slaughtered soon after the delivery; cultures of carcass specimens yielded growth ofBacillus anthracis. The origin of the animal infection was not known. Serum samples were obtained from all 11 members of the family group and randomly from 10 of the 75 cows on the farm, which appeared to be in good health. Tests for antibodies against protective antigen and lethal factor using EIA and Western blot techniques were positive in three subjects (in paired sera) with cutaneous anthrax and in one subject who neither had had direct contact with the infected cow nor showed any sign of anthrax.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Divisione Malattie Infettive, Ospedale San Bortolo, Via Rodolfi, 36100, Vicenza, Italy

    F. de Lalla, G. Pellizzer, A. Vaglia, F. Marranconi & A. Tramarin

  2. Bacteriology Division, US Army Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, 21702-5011, Frederick, Maryland, USA

    J. W. Ezzell

  3. Istituto Zooprofilattico sperimentale delle Venezie, Sezione di Vicenza, Viale Fiume 66, 36100, Vicenza, Italy

    E. Parenti

Authors
  1. F. de Lalla
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  2. J. W. Ezzell
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  3. G. Pellizzer
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  4. E. Parenti
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  5. A. Vaglia
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  6. F. Marranconi
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  7. A. Tramarin
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de Lalla, F., Ezzell, J.W., Pellizzer, G. et al. Familial outbreak of agricultural anthrax in an area of Northern Italy. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 839–842 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01960887

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01960887

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