Bacillus anthracis, the etiologic agent of anthrax, is a member of a highly diverse group of endospore-forming bacteria. Bacillus anthracis spores are typically found in soil, from which they may spread via contaminated dust, water, and materials of plant and animal origin. Although anthrax is primarily a disease of herbivores, humans may contract anthrax directly or indirectly from animals. Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture (LMA) conducts Anthrax diagnostics using Bacteriology and Molecular Biology Methods: Isolated cultures through the classical bacteriology methods are always confirmed by Molecular Biology assay (PCR). In 2014, within Tap7 project ,Identification and Mapping of Anthrax foci in Georgia Anthrax suspected soil samples were tested using two lab diagnostic methods and they were compared to each other.
Objective: Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture (LMA) conducts Anthrax diagnostics using Bacteriology and Molecular Biology Methods: Isolated cultures through the classical bacteriology methods are always confirmed by Molecular Biology assay (PCR). In the study the samples were screened for the presence of B. anthracis via two concurrent approaches to compare classical methods and a novel PCR method. Before the TAP-7 project, PCR was only used to confirm the identity of cultures isolated by the Bacteriology. New SOPs and algorythm was created for better laboratory diagnostic.