Anthrax vaccine

Anthrax is caused by a spore forming anaerobic, a person becomes infected by contact with a sick animal, infected livestock products or the remains of dead animals. In Russia, about 8,000 anthrax cattle cemeteries were recorded in the Volga, Central and Southern Federal Districts. Spores are highly stable and can spread over long distances.

Anthrax occurs in the cutaneous, intestinal and most severe pulmonary forms, the latter develops with inhalation infection. The incubation period is from a few hours to 12 days. Mortality with untreated cutaneous form - 5-20%, with intestinal - 25-75%, pulmonary - even higher. Unlike animals, a sick person does not distinguish a pathogen and therefore is not contagious to others, which limits the possibility of using anthrax for bioterrorism purposes.

In Russia, there are individual cases of anthrax every year (3 in 2007). In the United States, the pathogen and its spores were used for the purpose of bioterrorism. In Russia vaccinated in the enzootic region 2 vaccines are registered:

The anthrax vaccine is a live dry one for subcutaneous and scarifying application - live spores of the vaccine strain of STI lyophilized in a 10% aqueous solution of sucrose. Form release: 1.0 ml of vaccine in the ampoule (200 or 100 doses for subcutaneous or 20 or 10 doses for skin vaccination) + 1.5 ml of the solvent for dermal application - 30% glycerol. The vaccine against anthrax is stored and transported at a temperature of 2-10 ° (at 25 ° - no more than 20 days).

The anthrax vaccine combined lyophilizate for subcutaneous administration is a mixture of live spores of the vaccine strain STI-1 and purified. Of a concentrated concentrated protective anthrax antigen (PA) adsorbed on an aluminum hydroxide gel. The drug is lyophilized in ampoules from the original volume of 2 ml (10 doses). When a 0.9% solution of sodium chloride is added, a homogeneous suspension is formed. Form release: dry drug (10 doses) in ampoules, solvent - saline in ampoules of 6 ml. Liquid preparation of 5 ml (10 doses) - in ampoules or vials. In a pack of 5 ampoules (bottles) of a liquid vaccine or 5 ampules of a dry vaccine and a solvent. The vaccine is stored at a temperature of 2-6 °, transported. Lt; / RTI & gt; at 2-10 °. Shelf life of dry vaccine - 3 years, liquid - 2 years.

[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11],

Immunological properties of the vaccine against anthrax

Both vaccines are used in adolescents with age 14 and adults, they cause the formation of intense immunity lasting up to 1 year.

Methods of application and dosage of the vaccine against anthrax

Planned vaccination is carried out by the cutaneous method in the first quarter of the year, i.e. Before the most dangerous spring-summer season. Primary vaccination is carried out with both vaccines, revaccination - once a year subcutaneously with a vaccine for subcutaneous and scarification applications. The first three revaccinations are carried out by introducing in a volume of 0.5 ml (50 ± 10 million spores), and all subsequent ones - every two years in a volume of 0.5 ml (5 ± 1 million spores). It is better to inoculate subcutaneously subcutaneously.

The vaccine against anthrax is a live dry for subcutaneous and scarification application used in 2 ways. Primary immunization (from the age of 14 years) - twice with an interval of 20-30 days. For all vaccinations, the cutaneous dose is 0.05 ml and contains 500 million spores, one subcutaneous dose of 0.5 ml - 50 million spores.

Vaccination by the cutaneous (scarification) method is performed on the outer surface of the middle third of the shoulder through 2 drops of the diluted vaccine at a distance of 3-4 cm, making 2 parallel notches 10 mm long, followed by rubbing for 30 seconds. The contents of the ampoule immediately before use are resuspended in a solvent: 0.5 ml in an ampoule with 10 cutaneous doses, 1.0 ml with 20 doses. The stored vaccine, stored aseptically, was used for 4 hours.

Vaccination against anthrax subcutaneously: the drug is resuspended in 1.0 ml sterile 0.9% sodium chloride solution, then transferred to a sterile bottle with 99 ml of the same ampoule solution with 200 subcutaneous doses or with 49 ml for 100-dose ampoules. The vaccine is injected subcutaneously into the area of the lower angle of the scapula in a volume of 0.5 ml.

Inoculations with an anthrax combined dry and liquid vaccine for subcutaneous administration are performed once. In a vial (bottle) with 10 doses, 5.0 ml of sterile saline is injected, one dose (0.5 ml) contains 50 ± 10 million spores AND 0.35 ± 0.05 mg of PA protein. From the opened ampoule, stored aseptically, the vaccine is used for 4 hours. The vaccine against anthrax is injected into the area of the lower corner of the left scapula.

Contraindications for vaccination against anthrax

In addition to general contraindications for live vaccines, the following are considered:

• systemic connective tissue diseases;
• common recurrent skin diseases;
• disease of the endocrine system.

The interval between vaccination against anthrax and the introduction of other vaccines against anthrax should be at least one month.

[12], [13], [14], [15]

Reactions to the introduction of the vaccine against anthrax

When the skin is applied, the local reaction appears after 24-48 hours in the form of hyperemia, a small infiltration followed by the formation of a crust. When subcutaneous administration of both vaccines after 24-48 hours at the injection site, there may be a slight hyperemia, rarely infiltration up to 50 mm. The general reaction to the vaccine against anthrax is rare: in the 1st day, malaise, headache, fever to 38.5 °, and enlargement of the lymph nodes.

Post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax

The causative agent of anthrax is resistant to co-trimoxazole and many cephalosporins, in the case of presumed contact with it, ciprofloxacin or doxycycline is recommended for adults, amoxicillin 80 mg / kg / day (up to 1.5 g / day) for children.