B. anthracis colonies are medium-large, gray, flat, and irregular with swirling projections, often referred to as having a "medusa head" appearance, and are not hemolytic on 5% sheep blood agar. The bacteria are not motile, susceptible to penicillin, and produce a wide zone of lecithinase on egg yolk agar. Confirmatory testing to identify B. anthracis includes gamma bacteriophage testing, indirect hemagglutination, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect antibodies. The best confirmatory precipitation test for anthrax is the Ascoli test. Prevention
Precautions are taken to avoid contact with the skin and any fluids exuded through natural body openings of a deceased body that is suspected of harboring anthrax. The body should be put in strict quarantine. A blood sample is collected and sealed in a container and analyzed in an approved laboratory to ascertain if anthrax is the cause of death. The body should be sealed in an airtight body bag and incinerated to prevent the transmission of anthrax spores. Microscopic visualization of the encapsulated bacilli, usually in very large numbers, in a blood smear stained with polychrome methylene blue (McFadyean stain) is fully diagnostic, though the culture of the organism is still the gold standard for diagnosis. Full isolation of the body is important to prevent possible contamination of others.Protective, impermeable clothing and equipment such as rubber gloves, rubber apron, and rubber boots with no perforations are used when handling the body. No skin, especially if it has any wounds or scratches, should be exposed.
Otofaciocervical syndrome, also known as Fara Chlupackova syndrome, are a small group of rare developmental disorders of genetic origin which are characterized by facial dysmorphisms, long neck, preauricular and/or branchial pits, cervical muscle hypoplasia, hearing loss, and mild intellectual disabilities. Additional findings include vertebral anomalies and short stature. Types
There are two types of OFC:

Otofaciocervical syndrome type 1
It is characterized by facial dysmorphisms, low-set cup-shaped ears, preauricular sinus or cyst, hearing loss, branchial and skeletal anomalies, low-set clavicle bones, winged scapulae, sloping shoulders and mild intellectual disabilities. It is caused by autosomal dominant mutations in the EYA1 gene in chromosome 8. Only 11 cases have been reported in medical literature. Otofaciocervical syndrome type 2
It is characterized by the same symptoms in type 1, this disorder is different from type 1 because of its genetic cause and because of its additional features: thymus development alterations with T-cell immunodeficiency and recurrent infections which may turn fatal. It is caused by autosomal recessive mutations in the PAX1 gene in chromosome 20. Only 13 cases have been described in medical literature. == References ==