AUTHOR=Wang Lu , Wen Danli , Qu Yuanqing , Wang Qin , Liu Yuan 

TITLE=Case report: A case of cutaneous anthrax guided by metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1440130

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1440130

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>Anthrax is an acute zoonotic infectious disease caused by <italic>Bacillus anthracis</italic>. It is categorized as a Class B (reported within 24 h of onset, including pulmonary anthrax, which is managed as a Class A infectious disease and reported within 2 h of onset) infectious disease in China. Human anthrax infection primarily occurs through direct or indirect contact with infected animals. This study reports a case of cutaneous anthrax where typical anthrax colonies were observed in conventional microbial cultures, and large Gram-positive rods with squared ends were visible under the microscope. The results from metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) suggested the presence of <italic>Bacillus anthracis</italic>. This research explores the value of combining traditional microbiology with mNGS technology for the early diagnosis and therapy of infectious diseases.</p>