Comparing total vegetative cells between grouped fully virulent laboratory-adapted and wild <i>B</i>. <i>anthracis</i> strains on leaf or rock surfaces over 7-day period.

Grouped laboratory-adapted strains (blue) are the averaged vegetative cells from Ames (UF00738) and Vollum (UF00980) and grouped wild strain values (red) are the averaged vegetative cells from the Ames-like (UF01106) and Vollum-like (UF01103) strains. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM for (A) total vegetative cells recovered from leaves and (B) total vegetative cells recovered from rocks. The significant differences between laboratory-adapted and wild strains at each time point were determined by Mann-Whitney U tests. The data showed no significant differences between laboratory-adapted and wild B. anthracis strains at ρ (TIF)</p

Environmental contamination in the localized infectious zone (LIZ).

Pictures captured during an anthrax outbreak associated with wildlife in West Texas in 2019 representing the high number of flies feeding on a carcass (A), flies contaminating leaves (B), fly deposits on rocks (C), and fly deposits on leaves near an anthrax carcass (D) that is typical of anthrax outbreaks in this area. Insets magnify fly deposits on rocks (E) and leaves (F).</p

<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> spore viability on leaf and rock surfaces over a 7-day period.

The number of spores recovered from leaves (triangles) and rocks (circles) are reported for (A) Ames (UF00738), (B) Ames-like (UF01106), (C) Vollum (UF00980), (D) Vollum-like (UF01103), and (E) Sterne (34F2), illustrating spore persistence for at least 7 dpi. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM and graphed on a log scale. Significance between days for each strain was determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparisons tests with leaf temporal differences identified by † = ρ ρ ρ ρ ρ < 0.05.</p

Comparing spores and sporulation rates between grouped fully virulent laboratory-adapted and wild <i>B</i>. <i>anthracis</i> strains on leaf or rock surfaces over 7 days.

Grouped laboratory-adapted strains (blue) are the averaged spore titers from Ames (UF00738) and Vollum (UF00980) and grouped wild strain values (red) are the averaged spore titers from the Ames-like (UF01106) and Vollum-like (UF01103) strains. Sporulation rates (spores/day) were calculated from the slope of the lines between each timepoints and graphed on a linear scale. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM for (A) total spores recovered from leaves, (B) total spores recovered from rocks, (C) sporulation rate from leaves, and (D) sporulation rate from rocks. The significant differences between laboratory-adapted and wild strains at each time point were determined by Mann-Whitney U tests with * = ρ and ** = ρ ρ < 0.05.</p

Estimated wild <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> (UF01106 and UF01103 strains) CFU for <i>Sarcophaga bullata</i> and <i>Chrysomya rufifacies</i>.

Estimates over a 24-hour period incorporating laboratory transfer onto leaf and rock materials at Day 0 (D0). Fly volume and spot calculations determined using the data published in Rivers and McGregor [35]. Translocations and Tarsal Tracks were excluded from these estimates. CFU, colony forming units. (XLSX)</p

A comparison of diameters between laboratory experiments and samples collected from the outbreak in Texas.

(A) Averages of droplet volume spotted onto petri dishes in controlled experiments. (B) Averages of fly droplets and emesis on leaves (12 spots from 7 yaupon leaves, 20 spots from 9 oak leaves and 6 spots from3 persimmon leaves) and rocks (10 spots from 2 rocks at site one and 10 spots from 3 rocks at site 2) collected during the 2019 anthrax outbreak in Texas where viable B. anthracis spores were isolated.</p

Estimated wild <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> (UF01106 and UF01103 strains) spores for <i>Sarcophaga bullata</i> and <i>Chrysomya rufifacies</i>.

Estimates over a 24-hour period incorporating laboratory transfer onto leaf and rock materials at Day 0 (D0). Fly volume and spot calculations determined using the data published in Rivers and McGregor [35]. Translocations and Tarsal Tracks were excluded from these estimates. (XLSX)</p

Total and per spot type volume of eminence and number of spots generated by <i>Sarcophaga bullata</i> and <i>Chrysomya rufifacies</i> over a 24-hour period.

Fly volume and spot calculations determined using the data published in Rivers and McGregor [35]. (XLSX)</p

Differences in vegetative cells from leaves and rocks over 7 days between Sterne strain and fully virulent strains of <i>B</i>. <i>anthracis</i>.

(A) Total vegetative cells recovered from leaves and B) Total vegetative cells recovered from rocks for the Sterne (green), Ames (UF00738, dark blue), Vollum (UF00980, light blue), Ames-like (UF01106, red) and Vollum-like (UF01103, orange) strains. The mean ± SEM were calculated and graphed on a log10 scale. Significant differences were determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparisons tests with differences between the Sterne strain and all fully virulent strains identified by * = ρ (TIF)</p

<i>Bacillus anthracis</i> vegetative cell viability on leaf and rock surfaces over a 7-day period.

The number of vegetative cells recovered from leaves (triangles) and rocks (circles) are reported for (A) Ames (UF00738), (B) Ames-like (UF01106), (C) Vollum (UF00980), (D) Vollum-like (UF01103), and (E) Sterne (34F2), illustrating vegetative cell persistence for at least 7 dpi. Results are shown as the mean ± SEM and graphed on a log scale. Significance between days for each strain was determined by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn’s multiple comparisons tests with leaf temporal differences identified by † = ρ ρ ρ ρ < 0.05.</p