653 Original article https://doi.org/10.12980/apjtd.7.2017D7-62 ©2017 by the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. All rights reserved. Epidemiological and laboratory investigation of a zoonotic anthrax outbreak in West Bengal, India Premanshu Dandapat 1* , Arijit Chakrabarty 1 , Sonjoy Dey 2 , Pramod Kumar Nanda 1 , Suresh Chandra Das 1 , Suman Dey 3 , Arun Kurien 4 , Apurba Chakraborty 5 , Samiran Bandyopadhyay 1 , Subhasish Bandyopadhyay 1 , Raj Kumar Singh 6 1 Eastern Regional Station, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata, PIN 700 037, West Bengal, India 2 Department of Paediatrics, Bankura Sammilani Medical College & Hospital, P.O.: Kenduadihi, Dist.: Bankura, PIN – 722 102, West Bengal, India 3 Animal Resources Development (Veterinary Research & Investigation), Toxicology Laboratory, Jhargram, Dist: West Midnapur, PIN 721 507, West Bengal, India 4 Department of Animal Husbandry, Mattukatta, Idukki, PIN 685 584, Kerala, India 5 Midnapur Sadar Block, Village Satgerya, P.O. Pachkhuri, Dist: West Medinipur, Pin: 721 150, West Bengal, India 6 ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, PIN 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India Asian Pac J Trop Dis 2017; 7(11): 653-658 Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease journal homepage: http://www.apjtcm.com *Corresponding author: Premanshu Dandapat, Senior Scientist, Eastern Regional Station, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, 37, Belgachia Road, Kolkata, PIN 700 037, India. Tel: +91-33-25565725 E-mail: pdandapat@gmail.com Foundation Project: Supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi under the project AICRP on ADMAS (Grant No. AS/14/1/2013/ASR-IV). The journal implements double-blind peer review practiced by specially invited international editorial board members. 1. Introduction Amongst important zoonotic diseases reported till date, anthrax is a fatal infectious disease and has a nearly worldwide distribution. It is caused by Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis), a capsulated non-motile, aerobic, Gram positive and spore forming organism. Although almost all mammals including domestic and wild herbivores (such as cattle, sheep, goats, bison, deer, antelope and hippos) are affected by anthrax, higher mortality is recorded in ruminants[1-3]. Outbreaks of anthrax in animals mostly occur due to exposure to contaminated soil or ingestion of bacillus spores adhering to vegetation during grazing[4]. Because of the disease, infected animals not only loose body weight with reduced milk yield, but also collapse and die induced by high fever, breathing problems and presence of blood in the urine, faeces or milk[5]. A study conducted in India (1991–2005) estimates the average annual economic loss in cattle due to anthrax at 1.3%[6], which is ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate an anthrax outbreak affecting multi-species of animals including human in five remote tribal villages in West Midnapur district, India, with no previous history of anthrax cases for decades. Methods: A systematic epidemiological investigation, along with bacteriological examination, cultural isolation, biochemical and molecular characterization of the samples (blood, dried meat, pieces of bones) was carried out to confirm diagnosis, identify transmission routes and risk factors to recommend suitable control measures. Results: Samples from nine animals were confirmed for presence of Bacillus anthracis by characteristic morphology, biochemical profile, McFadyean reaction in blood smear, ‘medusa head’ appearance of colonies and PCR based detection of pXO1 plasmid. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the human patients contracted the infection during butchering or while handling contaminated animal products. In total, 14 animals died and 11 people got infected with cutaneous anthrax during the outbreak period. Conclusions: Anthrax continues to be a persisting problem in Indian subcontinent causing considerable morbidity and mortality in animals and human. Collaborative efforts of human and animal health officials through various controlled measures viz., ring vaccination, early treatment of human cases, quarantine of affected animals, safe disposal of carcass and public health campaign effectively controlled the zoonotic anthrax outbreak. Article history: Received 5 Apr 2017 Received in revised form 15 May, 2nd revised form 31 May 2017 Accepted 20 Aug 2017 Available online 24 Oct 2017 Keywords: Anthrax Epidemiology India West Bengal Zoonotic