Before this year most people in this country had never heard of anthrax or of foot and mouth disease, and most veterinarians had not thought about these two diseases since their third year in vet school.

But beginning in February we saw the tremendous devastation caused by the FMD outbreak in England and surrounding countries. We watched as this disease spread rapidly and forced the elimination of entire farms.

Now anthrax is dominating the U.S. media and our lives as we try to determine to what extent our livestock and we may be at risk.

Unlike FMD, anthrax is already present naturally in the United States. There have been cases of this disease in Illinois. The most recent case seen at the University of Illinois Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory was in 1978.

Anthrax is caused by a spore-forming bacterium called Bacillus anthracis. When exposed to oxygen the bacteria change into a resistant form called a spore, which can survive for many years in the soil. Soilborne spores in contaminated feed or water are the most common source of infection for animals. Spores can also be picked up directly from the soil through grazing. Drought conditions or flooding can increase the risk of infection when animals are grazing in contaminated areas.

Cattle and sheep and goats are the most susceptible animals; horses and swine are somewhat less susceptible. As described in the news, human beings can also be infected.

The first clinical sign can be the sudden death of a previously healthy animal. The incubation period is 3 to 7 days, with death generally occurring within hours of the signs, such as staggering, convulsions, and difficulty in breathing. It is also common to have blood discharging from the animal. It is important that animals suspected of having anthrax not be necropsied; opening up the carcass can promote the spread of the disease as the bacteria will form spores and enter the air.

The bacterium is susceptible to various antibiotics. In addition to Cipro that has been reported, penicillin is also generally effective. There is a vaccine for use in livestock in endemic areas. Producers concerned about a possible case of anthrax in their livestock should contact their veterinarian.

Basic biosecurity plans, including restricting access to animal areas, should be followed to prevent the possible introduction of this disease to herd. Feed ingredients should be purchased only from reliable sources.

For information on biosecurity for livestock producers, visit the Illinois TRAILL Web site at http://il-traill.outreach.uiuc.edu/biosecurity/.

More information on anthrax can also be found from the College of Veterinary Medicine (http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/news/anthrax.html), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (http://www.aphis.usda.gov:80/oa/pubs/anthrax.html) and the Centers for Disease Control (http://www.bt.cdc.gov/).