Indigenous human cutaneous anthrax in Texas.
In December 1988 an indigenous case of cutaneous anthrax was identified in Texas. The patient, a 63-year-old male Hispanic from southwest Texas, was a sheep shearer and had a recent history of dissecting sheep that had died suddenly. He experienced an illness characterized by left arm pain and edema. A necrotic lesion developed on his left forearm, with cellulitis and lymphadenopathy. After treatment with oral and intravenous penicillins, the patient fully recovered. Western blot testing revealed a fourfold or greater rise in antibody titer to Bacillus anthracis protective antigen and lethal factor. This represents the first case of indigenous anthrax in Texas in more than 20 years.
Taylor
J P
JP
Epidemiology Division, Texas Department of Health, Austin 78756.
Dimmitt
D C
DC
Ezzell
J W
JW
Whitford
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000635:transmission