Anthrax
Acute infectious disease caused by bacillus anthracis.
Infections in humans:
Skin contact – cutaneous, ingestion-gastrointestinal,
inhalation-pumonary
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Person-to-person transmission of inhalation disease
does not occur. *
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*direct exposure to vesicle secretions of cutaneous
anthrax can result in a secondary infection.
Pulmonary signs and symptoms:
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Flu-like symptoms that may briefly improve two to
four days after initial symptoms
Abrupt onset of respiratory failure
Hemodynamic collapse
Thoracic edema
Widened mediastinum on xray
Positive blood culture in 2-3 days of illness
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Summer 2004
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Prognosis:
Good if treated early. Increased mortality rate if
treated after respiratory onset.
Cutaneous signs and symptoms:
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Local skin involvement with direct contact
Commonly seen on head, forearms, or hands
Localized itching followed by popular lesion that
turns vescular within 2-6 days – develops into
depressed black eschar
Prognosis:
Good if treated with antibiotics.
Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms:
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Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever
Bloody diarrhea, hematemesis
Positive culture after 2-3 days
Prognosis:
If progression to toxemia and sepsis, prognosis is
poor.
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Summer 2004
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Modes of transmission:
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Inhalation of spores
Skin contact
Ingestion of contaminated food
Incubation period:
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Pulmonary: 2-60 days
Cutaneous: 1-7 days
Gastrointestinal: 1-7 days
Transmission:
Anthrax is not airborne person to person. Direct
contact with infectious skin lesions can transmit
infection.
Prevention:
Vaccine available-limited quantities.
7200 Biomedical Technology
Summer 2004
F.3
Botulism
Potent neurotoxin caused by an anaerobic bacilluscolstridium botulinum.
Transmission:
 Contaminated food
 Inhalation
Signs and symptoms:
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Gastrointestinal symptoms
Drooping eyelids
Weakened jaw clench
Difficulty swallowing or speaking
Blurred vision
Respiratory distress
Incubation period:
 Neurological SxS for food borne botulism – 12-36
hours after ingestion
 Neurological SxS for inhalation botulism – 24-72
hours after exposure
Prevention: Vaccine available
Botulism cannot be transmitted person to person.
7200 Biomedical Technology
Summer 2004
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Plague
Plague is an acute bacterial disease caused by
yersinia pestis.
Signs and Symptoms:
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Fever
Cough
Chest pain
Hemoptysis
Watery sputum
Bronchopneumonia on xray
Mode of Transmission:
 Plague normally transmitted from an infected flea
 Can be aerosol-probable use in bioterrorism
 Can be transmitted person to person
Incubation period:
 Flea bite – 2-8 days
 Aerosol – 1-3 days
Prognosis: Good if treated with antibiotics early.
7200 Biomedical Technology
Summer 2004
F.5
Ricin
Ricin is a potent protein toxin derived from Castor
beans. Castor beans are found easily all over the
world and the toxin is fairly easily produced. For this
reason ricin could be used as a biological weapon
with relative ease.
Infections in Humans
 Aerosol
 Ingestion
Signs and Symptoms:
18-24 hours
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Weakness
Fever
Cough
Pulmonary
edema
36-72 hours
 Severe
respiratory
distress
 Death from
hypoxemia
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Summer 2004
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Incubation period:
 8-18 hours
Prognosis:
 Poor-no vaccine available
Ricin does not spread easily person to person.
7200 Biomedical Technology
Summer 2004
F.7