Old burial ground for animal refuse, which has not been in use for the last 50 years, is planned to be given for housing development. However, the soil analysis detected viable spores of a causative agent of an extremely dangerous disease. What microorganism is the most likely to remain in the soil for such a long period of time?

Answer options

1. Yersinia pestis
2. Mycobacterium bovis
3. Francisella tularensis
4. Bacillus anthracis
5. Brucella abortus

Explanation

Anthracis is a Gram-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium. Anthrax has the unexpected ability to grow and reproduce while lurking in soil, spores remain dormant in the soil until eaten by cattle, then germinate and cause the deadly disease.Anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a Gram-positive rod. It is spread by infected carcasses. It is also known as Wool sorters' disease. Bacillus anthracis produces a tripartite protein toxinprotective antigenedema factor: a bacterial adenylate cyclase which increases cAMPlethal factor: toxic to macrophagesFeaturescauses painless black eschar (cutaneous 'malignant pustule', but no pus)typically, painless and non-tendermay cause marked edemaanthrax can cause gastrointestinal bleedingManagementthe current Health Protection Agency advice for the initial management of cutaneous anthrax is ciprofloxacinfurther treatment is based on microbiological investigations and expert advice