Assignment:
In this discussion board, you will list a disease/illness and the microorganism that causes it.
The microorganism may be a bacteria, virus, parasite, protozoan (amoebas, algae, waterborne illness), invertebrate (worms, flies, ticks), etc. Requirements:
1. List the disease and/or illness
2. List what it is caused by (specific scientific and common names of the organism - viruses will be more difficult to determine the actual name). Scientific names must be written correctly using the rules of binomial nomenclature.
3. Explain the disease/illness
4. What are the symptoms
5. How is it contracted
6. Is there a treatment and/or cure
7. No 2 students may write about the same disease/illness.
8. Be sure the disease/illness you choose to write about is caused by a microorganism (bacteria, virus, protozoan, parasite, etc.). Do not write about genetic disorders or birth defects.
9. Respond to another student's post in an educational manner.
Remember, the material you submit is to be in your own words, no cutting and pasting of source information (such as from the internet).You must include (using MLA documentation) all sources consulted in writing this discussion board.
Disease and the microorganism that cause it
Anthrax is a disease caused by the bacillus anthrax microbe. Most animals including humans can be infected with it. It is a skin infection and gastrointestinal (GI) infection that is fatal. This disease can be caused by direct and indirect contact, by touching inhaling or ingesting anthrax spores. Once anthrax spores get inside and activate the bacteria multiply, spread and produce toxins. Anthrax can come through animals or biological weapons (It hasn't been an attack in the United States since 2001).
This disease is dangerous because:
• It is easy to find in nature.
• It can be produced in a lab.
• It can last for a long time without stringent storage conditions.
• It is been weaponized before.
• It can be easily released in powder or spray form without drawing too much attention.
• They are microscopic might not be noticed by taste, smell or sight.
The symptoms of Anthrax can be exposure depends on the mode of contact:
1. Skin contact: itchy, looks like an insect bite, then the sore develops into a blister then becomes a skin ulcer with a black canter, doesn't cause pain. The symptoms develop 5 days of exposure.
2. Inhalation: cols symptoms, sore throat, fever achy muscles, cough, and shortness of breath, fatigue, shaking, chills and vomiting.
3. Ingestion: fever, loss of appetite, nausea, severe stomach pain, swelling in the neck, bloody diarrhea.
A French scientist Louis Pasteur developed the first effective vaccine in 1881.
In the case of being exposed to anthrax but have no symptoms the doctors will begin a preventive consists of antibiotics and anthrax vaccines. But if you have symptoms, the doctors will treat you with antibiotics for -60-100 days, with antitoxin therapy that eliminates the toxins
Work cited
Ias, Pmf. "Diseases Caused by Microorganisms." PMF IAS, 31 July 2018,