Two Case of Gastrointestinal Anthax

Kim, Cheol Hong; Park, Cheol Soo; Lee, Moon Hee; Kae, Sea Hyub; Lee, Jin; Kwak, Sang Taek; Joo, Sang Aun

Abstract

Anthrax is an acute bacterial infection caused by Bacillus anthracis, which is a spore-forrning, aerobic, Gram-positive bacillus. It occurs most frequently in herbivores when they are foraging for food in areas contamioated with spores of Bacillus anthracis under appropriate climatic conditions. Humans become infected when spores of Bacillus anthracis are introduced into the body by contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products, insect bites, inhalation, or ingestion. The disease occurs primarily in three forms; cutaneous, respiratory and gastrointestinal. Bacillus anthracis bacteremia can develop in any form of anthrax and is fatal in almost all cases. We experienced two cases of human gastrointestinal anthrax, which resulted frorn consumption of contaminated meat. Here we report 2 cases of human gastrointestinal anthrax with a brief review of literature.