bacterial disease Reindeer, Caribou Vaccine available Transmissible to humans

Anthrax (anthrax)

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Definition Signs Causes Transmission Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Vaccination Complications When to see a vet Zoonosis Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

Anthrax is a serious infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. This bacterium forms very resistant spores which can survive for many years in the soil.\n\nIn reindeer, this disease is particularly feared because it often progresses rapidly, leading to the death of the animal within a few hours, sometimes without visible signs before.\n\nEpisodes of anthrax have been documented in populations of reindeer, particularly during the melting of frozen soil (permafrost) releasing old spores buried for centuries. decades.\n\nThis disease is a zoonosis, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, making it a health emergency for both animals and humans.

Key point

Fatal disease within a few hours in the majority of cases in reindeer, notifiable and with high zoonotic potential. Any suspicion should be reported immediately to veterinary authorities without handling the carcass.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Fever Difficulty breathing Tremors Lying animal that does not get up Swelling Pale mucous membranes Blood in urine Fatigue Reduction Seizures

In reindeer, the most common form is peracute: the animal is found dead without having shown any visible signs.\n\nWhen signs are observed before death, they may include high fever, sudden depression, tremors, difficult breathing and staggering gait.\n\nSwellings may appear under the skin, in the throat or chest. Discharge of uncoagulated blood may come out of natural orifices (nose, mouth, anus) after death.\n\nThe animal may also be found lying down, unable to get up, just before death.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

The disease is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. This bacteria produces powerful toxins responsible for the damage observed in the body.\n\nThe dangerous and persistent form of the bacteria is the spore, a form of resistance capable of surviving for a very long time in the soil, particularly in areas where old corpses of infected animals have been buried.\n\nReindeer are most often infected by grazing on grass or lichen contaminated by spores, or by drinking contaminated water.

Grazing on land known to have hosted ancient coal pits increases the risk.\n\nGlobal warming and thawing of permafrost in arctic and subarctic regions can uncover ancient spores that have been trapped in ice or long-frozen ground.\n\nPeriods of drought followed by heavy rains, which stir up the ground and concentrate animals around water sources, also increase exposure.\n\nLarge gatherings reindeer, as during transhumance, increase the risk of collective contamination.

Transmission

Transmission occurs mainly through ingestion of spores present in contaminated soil, grass or lichen, or through contaminated water.\n\nBinging insects can sometimes play a role in the mechanical transmission of the bacteria between animals.\n\nThe disease is generally not transmitted directly from one reindeer to another by simple contact, but the environment contaminated by an infected carcass becomes a source of lasting risk.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

The definitive diagnosis is based on laboratory analyzes carried out from a blood sample, ideally taken without opening the carcass, often at the level of an ear or a peripheral vein.\n\nThese analyzes make it possible to identify the bacteria or its toxins. Due to the zoonotic nature and the risk of dissemination of the spores, these samples must be taken by a veterinarian or a trained technician, with strict precautions.\n\nGiven the rapid progression of the disease, the diagnosis is often made after the death of the animal.

Treatment

Treatment, when it is possible to intervene before death, is based on the use of appropriate antibiotics, on veterinary prescription and monitoring.\n\nHowever, due to the often very rapid and devastating progression of the disease in reindeer, effective treatment is rarely possible: death frequently occurs before any sign allowing intervention.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

Vaccination of reindeer herds in areas at known risk is the most effective means of prevention.\n\nAvoiding grazing on land identified as a former source of anthrax is essential.\n\nIf anthrax-related mortality is suspected, the carcass should never be opened or autopsied on site, as exposure to air promotes the formation of very resistant spores. The carcass must be reported to the veterinary authorities and managed according to strict procedures (incineration or supervised deep burial).\n\nHealth surveillance of herds and rapid reporting of any suspicious mortality to the authorities are key collective prevention measures.

Vaccination

A vaccine exists and is used in herds located in areas where the disease is known to be present in the soil.\n\nPreventative vaccination of reindeer in these risk areas is recommended by local veterinary authorities and is the main protective measure before any outbreak occurs.

Possible complications

Without rapid intervention, the disease progresses to generalized septicemia (massive blood infection) and then death.\n\nThe carcass of an animal that died from anthrax remains a major source of environmental contamination if it is not managed correctly, as the spores can persist in the soil for many years.\n\nAn uncontrolled outbreak can lead to the death of several animals in the herd in a short time.

When to see a veterinarian

Discovery of a reindeer suddenly dead without apparent cause, especially in a known risk area\nDischarge of non-coagulated blood from the natural orifices of a dead animal\nAppearance of fever, sudden depression or swelling under the skin in a living animal\nSeveral deaths grouped in the same herd in a short time\nSuspicion of melting permafrost or disturbance of soil identified as a former source of coal

Transmission to humans

Humans can become contaminated by direct contact with a sick or dead animal, with its carcass, its skin, or by handling contaminated meat without precautions.\n\nIn humans, the cutaneous form (by contact with the skin) is the most common and is generally well treated if treated quickly. More serious forms, respiratory or digestive, exist but are rarer.\n\nAny person who has been in contact with a suspicious animal must consult a doctor and report this exposure. Handling of suspect carcasses must be done with protective equipment and entrusted to trained professionals.

Prognosis

The prognosis is very poor once clinical signs appear: death most often occurs within a few hours.\n\nThe chances of survival depend almost entirely on the speed of detection and preventive vaccination of the herd, because curative treatment rarely arrives in time.

Frequently asked questions

Should a suddenly dead reindeer be autopsied on site?

No, you should definitely not open the carcass. Contact with air promotes the formation of very resistant spores. Veterinary authorities should be contacted immediately.

Can anthrax affect humans?

Yes, it's a zoonosis. Humans can be contaminated by contact with a sick or dead animal, or its carcass. Any exposure should be reported to a physician promptly.

Why does this disease sometimes reappear after decades?

Spores of the bacteria can survive for a very long time in the soil, particularly in permafrost. The thawing of these frozen soils can reveal old sources of contamination.

Is there an effective treatment for reindeer?

Antibiotics may be used if the disease is detected very early, but the progression is often so rapid that death occurs before any possibility of treatment. Preventive vaccination remains the best protection.