Fever, chills, weakness, aching. Chronic form can last more than a year and produces low grade symptoms 4. Primarily a disease of cattle, sheep, goats - grazing animals which acquire the organism from the soil where they grow slowly. In animals get a fulminating septicemia. Humans get disease by handling animals or animal products such as hides and wool, goat hair.
Bacteria enter via cuts and abrasions.
Bacteria grow in capillaries. Pulmonary anthrax - woolsorter's disease is most dangerous form 4. Penicillin used to treat, but only useful in early stages - later the exotoxin produces damage even after the bacteria are gone. Bacteria grow anaerobically, ferment carbohydrates in the tissues and produce gases that swell the tissue and prevent proper circulation. This leads to further necrosis.