Role of Animal Identification and Registration in Anthrax Surveillance

Anthrax is a globally distributed zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, a soil-borne, Gram-positive, spore forming bacteria. Bacillus anthracis can infect people who slaughter or eat animals that are infected. Recent reports indicate the incidence of human anthrax has increased steadily over the last several years in Georgia (2007-2012). The Georgian National Animal Health Program has implemented an anthrax control program. The Ministry of Agriculture, the National Food Agency (NFA), and the Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture (LMA) are engaged in diagnosis and control of anthrax in animals. Epidemiological investigation and surveillance are used to determine the origin of anthrax affected animals and their route of migration, however, for successful implementation, proper animal traceability is required. Identification of cattle is one of the components of epidemiological investigation and has been ongoing in Georgia since 2012.