Analysis of Soil Samples from Animal Carcass Disposal Sites in North Dakota (and Risk of Outbreaks in Humans)

Reported anthrax outbreaks in North Dakota between 2000 and 2010 resulted in 3 human infections and a loss of over 500 animals. In August, 2000 a man was diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax after he disposed five cows that died of anthrax. In addition, a family suffered from gastrointestinal anthrax after they consumed beef from an anthrax infected cow. A year later, a bioterror attack occurred in 2001 when anthrax spores were sent by mail, addressed to government officials and citizens of North Eastern USA, causing inhalational infection of 11 victims. Animal carcasses infected with anthrax are disposed of by one of two methods, incineration or burial. In 2006, data in Kenya revealed unsupervised incineration of zebra carcasses did not eliminate anthrax spores in 42% of the cases. Disposal methods of anthrax infected carcasses in North Dakota may not effectively destroy Bacillus anthracis spores, thus promoting the transmission of spores from the soil to humans when spore-bearing soil is disturbed. A soil sample analysis of North Dakota disposal sites will be conducted to verify anthrax spore viability to determine the effectiveness of disposal methods used. The soil sample analysis will include four surface soil samples and four core soil samples at four disposal sites. Spores will be concentrated, followed by DNA extraction and methods to test the viability of the spores. We predict that at least one soil sample will contain B. anthracis spores; proving disposal methods in North Dakota may not effectively destroy B. anthracis spores.