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This document is also available as a PDF. Biological Warfare and Its Cutaneous
Manifestations Thomas W. McGovern, MAJ, MC George W. Christopher, LTC, USAF, MC The opinions and assertions contained herein are those of the authors and not to be considered as
reflecting the views of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense. Key Words: biological warfare, cutaneous manifestations, hemorrhagic fever, mycotoxins, poxviruses,
plague, melioidosis INTRODUCTION Biological warfare agents have gained attention in recent years. They have been discussed in Congress and
in the medical literature, and have been the subject of frequent commentaries.[109] The mention of
`biological warfare' often elicits a sense of deadly mystery, as summarized by a Russian journalist "I have been gathering information on bacteriological weapons (BW) for several
years. Out of all the means of mass destruction, this kind can be considered as
the most mysterious."[112] This article attempts to eliminate some of that mystery by discussing the history and background of
biological weapons and by reviewing agents that cause cutaneous disease. While a biological attack could
result in a made-made epidemic of unprecedented scale, the classical principles of clinical medicine and
epidemiology would apply. Prompt diagnosis and early interventions could reduce morbidity and
mortality, and mitigate the effects of a biological attack. In the aftermath of a biological attack,
dermatologists could play a critical role in recognizing the differential diagnosis of an epidemic exanthem
and alerting public health officials, leading to prompt medical and public health interventions, hopefully
preventing wide-spread mortality. History 1 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm `Biological Warfare' (BW) is defined as the 'employment of biological agents to produce casualties in
man or animals or damage to plants.'[91] An early BW attack took place in the Black Sea port of Kaffa
(now Feodossia, Ukraine) in 1346. Rats and their fleas carried the disease to attacking Tatar soldiers. In
spite, the Tatars catapulted the bodies of victims at the defending Genoese who contracted plague and left
Kaffa. The same rats afflicting the Tatars likely brought disease to the Genoese.[5] Another attempted use of biological warfare occurred between 1754 and 1767 when the British infiltrated
smallpox-infested blankets to unsuspecting American Indians during the French and Indian war. Smallpox
decimated the Indians, but it is unclear if the contaminated blankets or endemic disease brought by the
Europeans caused these epidemics.[92] In 1932, the Japanese began a series of horrific experiments on
human beings at `Unit 731' outside Harbin, Manchuria, China.[92] At least 11 Chinese cities were
attacked with the agents of anthrax, cholera, shigellosis, salmonella, and plague, and at least 10,000 died
during their gruesome experiments.[27] The United States started an offensive biological warfare program at Camp Detrick (today Fort Detrick) in
Frederick, Maryland in 1943.[27] Ten years later, the defensive program began. By 1969, the U.S. had
weaponized the agents causing anthrax, botulism, tularemia, brucellosis, Venezuelan equine encephalitis,
and Q fever.[92] 2b
2a
Figures 2a, 2b: The "eight ball" one million liter test sphere at Fort Detrick, Maryland. Animals were tethered within
the sphere while aerosolized agents were aerosolized. Figure 3: Anthrax pilot plant used to produce billions of anthrax spores at Fort Detrick, Maryland before the United
States unilaterally ended offensive BW research in 1969. Spores were sent to other military sites where they were
placed in weapons. The building is entirely free of anthrax spores and on the National Register of Historical Places.
Tours frequently take visitors through this old production facility. These were soon destroyed after President Nixon unilaterally ended the U.S. offensive biological warfare
program that year.[74] 1972 the U.S. signed the Biological Weapons Convention stating that it would
never develop, produce, stockpile, acquire, or retain BW agents or the means to deliver them.[74] 2 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Despite this convention, the development of BW weapons has continued. Controversial evidence suggests
that `yellow rain' (trichothecene mycotoxins) attacks in Southeast Asia caused thousands of deaths
between 1974 and 1981.[8] In 1978, Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov was assassinated using an
`umbrella gun' that shot ricin into his thigh.[92] At least 66 people died of inhalational anthrax when an
aerosol of Bacillus anthracis spores was accidentally released from a BW research facility in Sverdlovsk,
USSR in 1979.[92] By 1991, the Iraqis had weaponized anthrax, botulinum toxin, and aflatoxin.[110] Fortunately, these were
not used during Desert Shield or Desert Storm. The United Nations destroyed the final remains of the Iraqi
offensive program in 1996. Figure 1: Al Hakam Single-Cell Protein Plant. Iraq's major facility for the production of biological warfare agents.
Under the watchful eye of the United Nations Special Commission, this plant was destroyed by Iraqui workers in May
and June of 1996. (Photo courtesy of Davis Franz, DMV, PhD) Finally, in 1995, the Aum Shinrikyo cult, that released sarin nerve gas in a Japanese subway, was found to
possess rudimentary biological weapons including anthrax, botulism, and Q fever.[92] Advantages of Biological Warfare[91,105,106,109] BW agents can cause large numbers of casualties with minimal logistical requirements. Perpetrators can
escape long before BW agents cause casualties, due to the incubation periods of the agents. Weapons are
easy and cheap to produce and can be used to selectively target humans, animals, or plants. The costs of
conventional weapons ($2000), nuclear armaments ($800), and chemical agents ($600) would far outstrip
the bargain-basement price of biological weapons ($1) to produce 50% casualties per square kilometer
(1969 dollars).[91] Agents can be easily procured from the environment, universities, biological supply houses, and clinical
specimens.[105] In fact, a white supremacist (who happened to be a microbiologist) received a vial of
Yersinia pestis shipped to his home by the American Type Culture Collection in Rockville, MD.[113]
Common fermentation techniques used for producing antibiotics, toxoid vaccines, foods, and beverages
can be used to grow large quantities of biological agents. Simple aerosol generating devices mounted on
planes or trucks, as used for crop-dusting, can generate 1-5 micron particles ideal for causing infectious
aerosols.[111] Aerosol particles 0.5-5 microns in diameter settle in the alveoli; larger particles are cleared
by respiratory mucosa, and smaller particles float in and out of the alveoli without settling. BW agents are
typically invisible in aerosol clouds and may not be detected until humans become ill. Panic would result
as medical capabilities are quickly overwhelmed. Disadvantages to using BW agents as weapons include hazards to the user, their dependence on optimal
weather conditions to result in effective dispersal, and their possible inactivation by solar irradiation and
other climatic conditions. BW attacks would most likely occur late at night or early in the morning when
agents would be less likely to undergo inactivation by ultraviolet radiation. At these times, atmospheric
temperature inversions would allow an agent cloud to travel at low altitude to cover its target. 3 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Selecting a BW Agent[9,105,106,111] Pathogens may be used against personnel, animals, or plants. Agents may kill or incapacitate victims.
Incapacitating agents may be more effective in battle by both preventing a unit from carrying out its
mission and overwhelming medical and evacuation assets. Agents with short incubation times would be
most effective in a tactical setting, while those with longer incubation periods would appeal more to
terrorists.[111] Biological attacks against large populations would most likely be disseminated by aerosol. A respiratory
portal of entry may cause different clinical features than naturally occurring disease (e.g. anthrax occurs
mainly as a cutaneous disease in nature, but causes a rapidly lethal hemorrhagic mediastinitis when spores
are inhaled). Biological attacks could be attempted by contaminating food and water supplies, although modern water
purification and the dilution effects in large volumes of water would negate the effectiveness of a
water-borne attack.[109] While intact skin is an excellent barrier to most biological warfare agents, some
agents, such as trichothecene mycotoxins, can penetrate the integument and cause systemic illness.
Ingestion and cutaneous penetration are currently considered unimportant potential routes of
exposure.[105] More unusual methods of dispersion could include releasing agents in their natural
arthropod vectors. Person-to-person transmission of several agents ( notably plague and smallpox) could perpetuate an
epidemic. Nosocomial transmission could result from blood and body fluid exposures (hemorrhagic fever
viruses, smallpox, and plague). In 1970, WHO predicted that a city of 500,000 people would be devastated following an aerosol release of
as little as 50 kg of BW agent (Table 1).[107] Is There a Real Biological Warfare Threat? Current unclassified information reveals that, despite the 1972 Geneva Biological Weapons Convention,
at least seventeen countries are known or suspected of having offensive biological weapons
programs.[104] Clearly, BW is a credible threat to our military, as it was during Desert Shield/Storm.[110]
Terrorist use of BW agents could kill many people to create an unparalleled medical, political, and social
crisis. Despite the fact the biological weapons have never been used against the United States,[111] we
must prepare for a new age of terrorism.[105,106,109] Civilian health-care workers must know how to
recognize a BW attack in the event of terrorist use of BW agents on civilian populations.[109] Current U.S. Biological Warfare Policy The U.S. government currently states that nuclear warfare would be used only as a `last resort', and
chemical warfare might be used to retaliate an enemy's first use of chemical agents. However, the U.S. has
vowed to never use BW agents under any circumstances. All BW agent work is limited to defensive
measures such as developing immunizations, detection methods, personal protective equipment,
decontamination, rapid diagnostic tests, and treatments.[74] 4 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm United States Defensive Program Figure 4: Entrance to Fort Detrick with headquarters building in background. The U.S. BW defense program is centered at Fort Detrick, MD at the United States Army Medical
Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID). No classified work is done; all research is open;
investigators are encouraged to present their findings at scientific meetings and in peer-reviewed
journals.[74] Information is regularly shared with foreign visitors and collaborators. Its mission is to
conduct research to develop strategies, products, information, procedures, and training for medical defense
against biological warfare agents (90%) and naturally occurring agents of military importance that require
maximal containment for laboratory safety (10%).[91,105] Figure 5: Front of main building at USAMRIID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious
Diseases) on the grounds of Fort Detrick, Maryland. USAMRIID offers a biological warfare defense course that reviews agents most likely to be used by an
enemy military. The agents listed in Table 2 have detailed clinical data sheets in the NATO handbook on
biological warfare defense[91], are included in the Textbook of Military Medicine Volume entitled
`Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare,[111] and/or are taught at the US Army's
Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties Course. AGENTS WITH CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS AS PART OF A BW PRESENTATION BACTERIAL AGENT Burkholderia pseudomallei Burkholderia (formerly Pseudomonas) pseudomallei is a gram-negative bacillus isolated from soil,
stagnant streams, ponds, rice paddies, and market produce in endemic areas and can cause epizootics in
sheep, goats, swine, horses, and seals.[4,33,43,45,77] Humans contract disease from contamination of
abrasions with soil but may also ingest or inhale organisms.[4,45] Melioidosis is endemic to southeast
Asia and northern Australia, but it may occur anywhere between 20 degrees north and south
latitudes.[4,45] It is most widespread in Thailand where it accounts for 19% of hospitalizations and 40%
of deaths from community-acquired septicemia.[4] Mild or subclinical infections are common; 80% of 5 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Thai children are seropositive by age five years.[4] Melioidosis most commonly presents as an acute pulmonary infection, but it may present as an acute
localized skin infection or septicemia. Chronic suppurative infections often develop with secondary
abscesses in the skin, brain, lungs, myocardium, liver, spleen, bones, lymph nodes, or eyes.[4] Melioidosis
may remain latent for years. Even months of treatment with appropriate antibiotics do not necessarily
eradicate the disease. Histologically, caseating granulomas as found in tuberculosis are seen. Melioidosis
has been called the `Great Imitator' because the disease does not show any specific clinical features except
perhaps the presentation of suppurative parotitis in children.[43] Fulminant respiratory failure, multiple
pustular and necrotic skin lesions, or the radiologic appearance of tuberculosis without isolating any
mycobacteria suggests the diagnosis of melioidosis.[4,43,45] Definitive diagnosis requires culturing
organisms from blood or body fluids. No carrier state exists; recovery of organisms denotes active
disease.[77] Antibiotic treatment should be based on sensitivities. Ceftazidime has been most responsible for reducing
mortality. Treatment must continue at least 30 days, but 60-150 days is recommended for pulmonary
disease and 6-12 months for suppurative extrapulmonary disease.[45] Before antibiotics, 95% of patients
died. The mortality rate for septicemic disease is over 50% and 20% for localized disease despite
treatment. Overall, mortality is 40%. There are no available vaccines.[43,45,77] Cutaneous Manifestations Severe urticaria has been reported with pulmonary melioidosis.[93] Flushing and cyanosis may develop
during septicemia. No cutaneous lesion, however, is specific or diagnostic of melioidosis, nor is any likely
to be present with acute pulmonary disease. Inhalational melioidosis could lead to any of the skin
manifestations mentioned below, but only after metatstatic abscesses to the skin formed, and this would
likely take months. Many patients in endemic areas present with pustules or cutaneous abscesses
associated with lymphangitis, cellulitis, or regional lymphadenitis.[77] Draining sinuses from lymph nodes
or even bone may be present. Abscesses may ulcerate, and rarely, ecthyma gangrenosum-like lesions may
form. BW considerations B. pseudomallei would most likely be delivered as an aerosol. However, its long incubation period would
make it a less effective agent than anthrax. The lack of a vaccine and its high mortality despite treatment
may increase its utility as a BW agent. Acute pneumonia could be confused with plague given the similar
appearance of stained organisms. BACTERIAL AGENT Yersinia pestis Because of its high mortality (approximately 200 million deaths throughout history)[57], Yersinia pestis
has attracted attention for development as a possible BW agent. This gram-negative bacillus develops an anti-phagocytic carbohydrate protein envelope (F1 capsular
antigen) during growth above 33o C.[57] A single gene encodes the Pla protease that provides both 6 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm fibrinolytic and coagulase activities. At 37o C, fibrinolysis is most active; at 28o C, coagulation
predominates. This enzyme helps organisms grow and remain in flea guts or spread through tissues in
mammals. Other virulence factors act in concert with these such that only 2-10% of the bacteria needed to
cause death in mammals at 25o C is necessary at 37o C.[57] Figure 6: Wright's stain peripheral blood smear of a patient with septicemic plague demonstrating bipolar, safety-pin
staining of Yersinia pestis. While Wright's stain will often demonstrate this characteristic appearance, Giemsa's and
Wayson's stains most consistently highlight this pattern. (Courtesy Ken Gage, PhD., CDC, Fort Collins, CO. ) At least 30 types of fleas and over 200 species of mammals in 73 genera serve as reservoirs.[60] Flea
infection is restricted to the alimentary canal where bacilli either are passed or stay in the midgut
(stomach). There they multiply in a fibrinoid mass of blood on needle-like spines in the proventriculus.
These spines aid the rupture of red blood cells and normally prevent the regurgitation of a blood meal.
Such `blocked' fleas cannot digest their food and ultimately die. However, this state makes them
ravenously hungry. In an attempt to feed, blood sucked from a mammalian host mixes with bacilli which
are regurgitated back into the host. Fleas become unblocked and plague transmission ceases at
temperatures above 28o C.[137] This may be caused by differential effects of Pla protease at different
temperatures.[5,57] Figure 7: Here a flea is shown with a blocked proventriculus, equivalent to the gastroesophageal region in man. In
nature, this flea would develop a ravenous hunger because of its inability to digest the fibrinoid mass of blood and
bacteria. Ensuing biting of the nearest mammal will result in clearing of the proventriculus through regurgitation of
thousands of bacteria into the bite wound. (Courtesy United States Army Environmental Hygiene Agency) After a flea injects a blood meal into an unsuspecting host, neutrophils and monocytes engulf the bacilli
and transport them to regional lymph nodes. While the neutrophils can destroy bacilli, the monocytes
cannot. In monocytes, Y. pestis multiplies and develops its anti-phagocytic capsule that prevents even
neutrophils from digesting it. Bacilli then multiply in lymph nodes and the blood and travel throughout
the body, but especially to the spleen, liver, lungs, and meninges.[5,57] Every continent except Australia and Antarctica maintains enzootic foci of plague.[57] Between 1979 and
1993, 16,312 worldwide cases resulted in over 1600 deaths.[57] Clinical Features 7 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Most endemic plague presents with tender, erythematous lymphadenopathy, most commonly in the groin
and causes bubonic plague (Greek boubon = groin). Buboes may point and drain spontaneously. [103]
Bubo location is primarily a function of the region of the body in which an infected flea inoculates plague
bacilli. 8b: The next most common lymph node regions involved are the
Figure 8a: Bubo of femoral lymph nodes, the inguinal, axillary (b) and cervical areas. This child has an
most common site of erythematous, tender, erythematous, eroded, crusting, necrotic ulcer at the presumed
swollen nodes in a plague victim. primary inoculation site on the left upper quadrant. This type of
lesion is uncommonly found in patients with plague. (Photos courtesy
of Ken Gage, PhD., CDC, Fort Collins, CO) Figure 9: Small femoral bubo and presumed inoculation site (inferior thigh) in a patient with plague pneumonia. No
chest x-ray pattern is characteristic of plague, but bilateral interstitial infiltrates are most commonly seen. (Photos
courtesy of Ken Gage, PhD., CDC, Fort Collins, CO) A lesion is seen at the site of a flea bite no more than 10% of the time.[102] Spread to the bloodstream
results in septicemic plague.[104] From the blood, the meninges may become infected. Spread to the
lungs results in pneumonic plague that is rapidly fatal and transmissible. Because bacilli in pneumonic
plague lesions possess an anti-phagocytic capsule, transmission by cough or sneeze can lead to death in a
healthy individual within one to two days. The median infective inhaled dose is 100-500 bacilli.[105]
However, as only 1-10 bacilli can infect rodents or primates via the oral, intradermal, subcutaneous, or
intravenous route.[138] Respiratory droplets can be inhaled by those within two to five feet. The ensuing
flu-like illness progresses rapidly to overwhelming pneumonia with cough and bloody sputum. If not
treated within 24 hours of symptoms, pneumonic plague patients almost all die.[105,137] One must have a
high index of suspicion to diagnose plague in the absence of buboes. Stains and cultures of blood, bubo
aspirates, sputum, cerebrospinal fluid, or even skin scrapings may be helpful in isolating the organism. The formalin-killed plague vaccine protects against bubonic, but not inhalational plague.[139,140,141]
Attempts at more immunogenic live-attenuated vaccines result in no increase in immunogenicity and
sporadic reversion of vaccine strains to virulent, wild type bacteria.[142] Most strains of Y. pestis are
sensitive to streptomycin, gentamicin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and
doxycycline. Although in vitro testing has demonstrated the effectiveness of quinolones, rifampin,
third-generation cephalosporins, and amoxicillin, these have not been used to any great degree in human 8 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm cases.[5] The U.S. military currently requires the vaccine only for those traveling or deploying to high risk
areas and for those employed in high risk occupations (entomologists or laboratory workers using Y.
pestis).[20] Cutaneous Manifestations Terminal pneumonic and septicemic plague patients, as would be seen in a BW scenario, would develop
livid cyanosis and large ecchymoses on the back.[96] Septicemia could cause petechiae, purpura,
ecchymoses, and acral necrosis. [103,137] Figure 10: Ecchymoses
at the neck base of a
girl with plague.
Bandage is over the site
of a prior bubo
aspirate. These lesions
probably gave rise to
the title line of the
children's nursery
rhyme "ring around
the rosy". (Photos
courtesy of Ken Gage,
PhD., CDC, Fort
Collins, CO)
The petechiae and ecchymoses may even mimic meningococcemia. Dark cyanotic lesions, large
ecchymoses, and/or the acral necrosis may have given rise to the Medieval epithet, `the Black Death.'[5]
Rose-colored purpuric lesions gave rise to the nursery rhyme "Ring around the rosy."[95] The "Pocket full
of posies" referred to the attempted prophylactic measure of flowers carried by the healthy, especially
physicians, "Ashes, ashes" referred to the impending mortality ("Ashes to ashes, dust to dust"), or
alternatively "A-choo, A-choo" referred to the sneeze of pneumonic plague, and "All fall down" referred to
the terminal event - death. No chest x-ray pattern is characteristic of plague, but bilateral interstitial infiltrates are most commonly
seen. Figure 11: Right-side, middle and lower lobe involvement in a patient with plague pneumonia. (Photo courtesy of Ken
Gage, PhD., CDC, Fort Collins, CO) 9 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure 12: Rock squirrel in extremis coughing up blood-streaked sputum of pneumonic plague. (Photo courtesy of Ken
Gage, PhD., CDC, Fort Collins, CO) Rare cases of ecthyma gangrenosum-like lesions and carbuncles due to plague have been
reported.[96,103] Figures 13a, b: Acral necrosis of the nose, lips, fingers (a) and toes (b) and residual ecchymoses over both forearms in
a patient recovering from bubonic plague that disseminated to blood and lungs. At one time, the patient's entire body
was ecchymotic. (Reprinted from McGovern TW, Friedlander AM. Plague. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, eds.
Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Chapter 23 In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook of Military
Medicine. Washington, DC: US Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, and Borden Institute;
1997:493. Pharyngitis associated with cervical lymphadenopathy has been reported in contacts of bubonic plague
patients.[143] Of course the most common cutaneous manifestation of plague, the bubo, would not be
present in a BW scenario unless the Japanese plan (discussed below) of releasing infected fleas was
resurrected. BW considerations While Yersinia pestis would most likely be aerosolized for a BW attack, the Japanese employed a more
creative approach in China during World War II. Human fleas (Pulex irritans) were multiplied and then
infected with Y. pestis. These organisms were released into several Chinese cities where small epidemics
of plague ensued. Normally, animal hosts die in epizootics before humans are infected, but in these cases,
humans died first and then animals began dying of plague.[5,97] Plague would most likely be transmitted as an aerosol in the event of BW.[105] The possibility of rapid
death combined with possible person-to-person transmission (in contrast to anthrax) make plague an
ominous BW threat. The United States studied Y. pestis as a potential offensive weapon in the 1950s.
Other countries are suspected of weaponizing plague.[105] TOXIN THREAT Trichothecene mycotoxins 10 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Trichothecene mycotoxins (`Yellow Rain') are the only potential BW toxins with cutaneous activity and
manifestations. Mycotoxins are a diverse group of small molecular weight compounds produced by
fungi.[52] They can occur at toxic levels in moldy grains and other agricultural products[8,52] and are
mainly produced by members of five fungal genera: Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Alternaria, and
Claviceps.[52] Eating contaminated foodstuffs and perhaps inhaling aerosolized toxins uncommonly
causes natural human or animal disease.[7,8,52] Clinical Features Human intoxication is rare. An entity known as alimentary toxic aleukia, reported in Russia since the 19th
century, is thought to result from ingestion of mycotoxins while eating foods prepared from moldy grain.
Signs and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, `skin inflammation,' leukopenia, hemorrhage, and
sepsis.[8,52] More recently, and closer to home, trichothecene mycotoxins are thought to have caused fatal pulmonary
hemorrhage in Cleveland area infants. In one area of Cleveland, it may have accounted for 5% of cases of
sudden infant death syndrome between 1993-95. In all cases, the fungus Stachybotrys atra was found
growing in water-saturated cellulose in the walls of poorly maintained homes.[7,29,31] Cutaneous Manifestations At low doses (nanograms), severe skin irritation with erythema, edema, and necrosis is observed.
Vesication often occurred with `Yellow Rain' attacks; T-2 (one of the trichothecenes) mycotoxin is
estimated to be 400 times more potent than alkylating agents (mustards) in producing skin injury.[99] Figure 14: Vesicles and erosions on the back of hairless guinea pigs at 1,2,7 and 14 days after application of ( bottom
to top) 25, 50, 100 or 200 ng of T-2 mycotoxin in 2ul of methanol. (Reprinted from McGovern TW, Friedlander AM.
Plague. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, eds. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Chapter 23
In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook of Military Medicine. Washington, DC: US Department of the Army, Office
of the Surgeon General, and Borden Institute; 1997:493.
T-2 mycotoxins can be absorbed through the skin and cause death with an LD50 of 2-12 mg/kg compared
to that for mustards (4500 mg/kg) and lewisite (37 mg/kg).[100,101] In Southeast Asia, the skin was
thought to be the major site of deposition of aerosol spray or coarse mists.[8] BW considerations Epidemiologic, intelligence, and trichothecene assay evidence suggest that trichothecene mycotoxins were
used in Southeast Asia between 1974 and 1981.[8,91] Nearly 400 alleged attacks reportedly resulted in 11 of 48 11/13/99 8:53 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm approximately 10,000 deaths. In Laos, the attacks were described as `yellow rain,' a sticky yellow liquid
that fell and sounded like rain or looked like a yellow cloud of dust, powder, mist, smoke, or insect spray.
The liquid dried rapidly to form a powder. Most attacks used yellow pigment, but some attacks used red,
green, white, or brown smoke or vapor. More than 80% of attacks were by air to surface rockets.[98] Microgram exposure caused eye irritation, corneal damage, and impaired vision. At 0.1-0.2 LD50, emesis
and diarrhea occurred. Aerosols caused death within minutes to hours by destroying alveoli. The toxins
affect rapidly proliferating tissues and are cytotoxic to most eukaryotic cells by inhibiting protein and
RNA synthesis. After entering the circulation, regardless of portal of entry, they affect all rapidly
proliferating tissues. A protective mask and full-body clothing should be donned at the first sign of a `yellow rain' attack.
Afterwards, battle dress uniforms (BDUs) and contaminated areas of skin should be washed with soap and
water followed by a water rinse. Washing within 4-6 hours of exposure removes 80-98% of the toxin and
prevented death and dermal lesions in experimental animals. No known specific therapy exists, although
high doses of systemic steroids decreases primary and secondary toxin injury.[8] VIRAL AGENTS Poxviridae Poxviruses, the largest of all viruses, differ from other DNA viruses by replicating in the cytoplasm where
they produce eosinophilic inclusion bodies. They are relatively resistant to drying and many
disinfectants.[14] The Orthopox genus includes at least nine species.[118] Three viruses interest us in a
BW context: variola, monkeypox, and vaccinia.
Variola is an orthopox virus very similar to vaccinia but with different host predilections.[16] There was
no animal reservoir (although monkeys are susceptible to infection); this factor enabled global eradication
of this disease. Variola retains its transmissibility for one year in dust and cloth.[10] Person-to-person
transmission requires close contact.[16] Patients were most infective 4-6 days after the illness started, and
respiratory spread was probably the most common route of transmission. Only 30% of susceptible contacts
became infected.[18] Monkeypox was first identified in 1958 as a pathogen of cynomolgus monkeys; in 1971 it was linked to
human disease.[17] The virus exists in an enzootic state in arboreal squirrels of tropical rain forests of
western and central Africa.[2,17] Person-to-person transmission by respiratory droplet occurs.[16,17] Clinical Features/Cutaneous Manifestations Thirty years ago, smallpox was endemic in 31 countries affecting 15 million people each year (of which 2
million died). Survivors often remained disfigured or blinded for life. A 10-year WHO program eradicated
the disease as of October, 1977.[11,18] Smallpox featured an incubation period of 7-17 days and a prodrome of 2-4 days. During the prodrome,
10% of light-skinned patients develop an erythematous rash.[121] An enanthem on the buccal and
pharyngeal mucosa started on about the second day. These lesions shed virus and allowed for aerosol
spread, the most important means of viral transmission.[122] The typical lesions started on the face, spread 12 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm to the forearms and hands, and finally appeared on the lower limbs and trunk within about one week.
Macules progressed to papules, vesicles, pustules (sometimes umbilicated), and crusts distributed in a
centrifugal pattern (in distinction to varicella) over a 1-2 week period. Figure 15: Electron micrograph of pox virus
More lesions were present in convex than concave areas. Crusts would detach in about 3 weeks leaving
depressed, hypopigmented scars.[16,18,105,118] Virus could be cultured from crusts throughout
convalescence.[123] Several clinical varieties of smallpox were described. `Ordinary' smallpox (variola major), present in 80%
of patients, led to 3% mortality among the vaccinated but 30% among the unvaccinated. 16a. 16b. 16c.
Figures 16a-c: Unvaccinated infant with centrigugally-distributed umbilicated pustules on days 3 (a), 5 (b) and 7 (c) of
'ordinary' form of variola major strain of smallpox. (Reprinted with permission from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita
I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1988:10-14.
Photographs by I. Artia) Figure 18: Adult with variola major lesions. Death usually ensued before typical pustules developed. (Reprinted with permission from
Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World
Health Organization; 1988:10-14. Photographs by I. Artia) The most virulent form, hemorrhagic smallpox, was seen in less than 3% of patients. 96% of these patients
died, usually before they developed typical pox lesions.[124] Figure 19:Hemorrhagic-type variola major lesions. Death usually ensued before typical pustules developed.
(Reprinted with permission from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication.
Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1988:10-14. Photographs by I. Artia) 13 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Flat smallpox occurred in 2-5% of patients with severe systemic toxicity and slow evolution of flat, soft,
focal skin lesions.[114] 66% of the vaccinated and 95% of the unvaccinated died. Alastrim, or variola
minor, was a mild illness featuring diminutive cutaneous lesions, mild systemic disease, and a case fatality
rate of less than 5%. 17c 17a
Figures 17a,b,c: 'Ordinary form' of variola minor strain of smallpox (alastrin) in an unvaccinated woman 12 days
after the onset of skin lesions. The facial lesions are more sparse (a) and evolved more rapidly than the extremity
lesions (b and c). (Reprinted with permission from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox
and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1988:10-14. Photographs by I. Artia)
Modified smallpox occurred as a "form fruste" among vaccinees and was usually a mild disease. Finally,
`variola sine eruption' occurred in 30-50% of vaccinated contacts of smallpox patients. Serologic studies
showed increased antibody titers after exposure, but no skin lesions appeared.[16,18] Monkeypox greatly resembles variola with a pustular eruption, fever, respiratory symptoms, and death in
3-10% of cases.[118] Figure 20a,b: Boy with monkeypox in Democratic republic of the Congo in 1996. Note the centrifugal distribution and
synchronicity of lesions as was typical for smallpox. (Coutest of William Clemm). The only distinguishing feature appears to be cervical and inguinal lymphadenopathy.[105,118] Secondary
bacterial pneumonia is associated with a 50% mortality. An outbreak in Zaire between February and
August 1996 led to 71 cases with 6 deaths in 13 villages in a region of 15,000 people.[17] Unlike
smallpox, monkeypox possesses a non-human reservoir, an arboreal squirrel.[119] In February, 1997, a
search in 12 villages found 92 possible cases among 4000 people (2% attack rate). Fifteen of 84 had a
smallpox vaccination scar.[17] Communicability may be related to declining vaccinia-induced
immunity.[2,105] Vaccinia immunization seems to provide 85% protection against monkeypox.[120] BW considerations 14 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Smallpox has been eradicated, but at least two sites, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in
Atlanta and the Russian State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology in Koltsovo, Russia still
maintain viable variola. The extent of clandestine stockpiles remains a matter of debate and concern.[105]
WHO has set June 30, 1999 as the day all variola stocks are to be destroyed.[11] If variola were ever
released by an enemy or by terrorists, morbidity and mortality could be considerable. The
person-to-person aerosol infectivity, high mortality, and stability make variola (and possibly monkeypox) a
potential BW threat.[118] Other animal poxviruses could be genetically engineered to be virulent in
humans.[105] While WHO has 200-300 million doses of smallpox vaccine stored, the vaccine is gradually
losing virulence, and the number of smallpox-naïve individuals continues to increase as vaccination has
virtually ceased.[117] VIRAL AGENTS Hemorrhagic fever viruses Hemorrhagic fever (HF) is a clinical syndrome featuring fever, myalgia, malaise, hemorrhage, and in some
cases, hypotension, shock and death. The hemorrhagic fever viruses belong to four families of lipid
enveloped viruses with single-stranded RNA genomes.[129] The taxonomy, ecology, and epidemiology of
these viruses are summarized in Table 3. Transmission of HF viruses varies with the specific virus.
However, all of the HF viruses, with the exception of dengue, are potentially transmitted via aerosol,
underscoring their possible role as BW agents.[129] Hemorrhagic fever viruses are transmitted by arthropod vectors or contact with infected animal
reservoirs.[105] Arenaviruses and Hantaviruses are transmitted by inhalation of aerosolized rodent excreta,
while Rift Valley Fever and Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) can be aerosolized during the
butchering of infected livestock.[129] The reservoir for filoviruses remains a mystery.[10,30,44,56,59,84]
Person-to-person spread may occur via direct contact with infected patients or their blood and body
fluids.[25,32] Four viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) have a high risk of nosocomial spread and are
quarantinable conditions: Lassa fever, CCHF, Ebola fever, and Marburg disease.[44,59] While
epidemiologic studies indicate that respiratory transmission of viral hemorrhagic fevers does not occur
among humans, such transmission has occurred among non-human primates. In addition, subclinical
human infections due to a filovirus virulent for monkeys (Ebola-Reston) have occurred after respiratory
exposure to infected animals.[130] Figure 21: Site of Lassa Fever outbreak in Liberia, Figure 23: The fertile Pampas of Argentina, site of the
1988. (Courtesy Peter B.Jahrling, PhD.) Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever due to Junin virus. (Courtesy
Peter B.Jahrling, PhD.) The potential risk of person-to-person transmission of zoonotic viruses is underscored by a recent report
from Argentina suggesting secondary transmission of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, resulting in 15
cases and 8 deaths. In addition, infectious aerosols may be generated during endotracheal suctioning and
other medical procedures. Although nosocomial transmission of HF in Africa has been interrupted by
standard universal precautions without additional respiratory measures, adding respiratory protection as an
infection control measure is advised by the Centers for Disease control and Prevention because 15 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm information regarding exposure and transmission in humans is limited. Infections can be prevented by
avoiding contact with vectors and reservoirs, practicing standard hospital infection control procedures,
patient isolation, disinfection, and reporting cases to public health officials.[25,44] Clinical Findings Viral hemorrhagic fevers present as acute febrile illnesses characterized by malaise, myalgias, and
prostration dominated by generalized abnormalities of vascular permeability because the target organ for
viral replication is the endothelial cell.[105,129,136] Initial signs include flushing, conjunctival injection,
periorbital edema, petechiae, hypotension, and a positive tourniquet test. Early in the disease course, signs
and symptoms are non-specific and make differentiation from endemic febrile illnesses (malaria, enteric
fever, typhoid fever, meningococcemia, rickettsioses, other viral infections, and non-infectious diseases
such as vasculitis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and heat stroke)
very difficult.[59,129] Full-blown disease develops into shock and generalized mucosal hemorrhage.
Neurologic, hematopoietic, or pulmonary involvement is often present. Diffuse bleeding often occurs as a
result of widespread vascular damage, hepatic dysfunction and/or disseminated intravascular coagulation
(DIC). Life-threatening blood loss rarely occurs.[105] Some clinical features may differentiate the hemorrhagic fevers. An exanthem is common with the
filoviruses,[56,84,89,90] sometimes occurs in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome and dengue
fever,[44] is uncommon with Lassa fever,[59] and is absent in CCHF. Capillary leak syndrome is most
common in Lassa fever while hemorrhage and neurological manifestations are uncommon.[59,105]
Neurologic and hemorrhagic complications are common among the South American Arenaviruses.[105]
Rift Valley Fever rarely causes hemorrhage.[129] While CCHF exhibits no edema, it results in DIC and
the most severe hemorrhage among HF viruses.[59] Filoviruses also exhibit significant
DIC.[56,89,90,129] Sequelae of VHFs include hair loss, Beau's lines, deafness (Lassa, Ebola), retinitis (RVF, KFD), uveitis
(RVF, Marburg), encephalitis (AHF, BHF, RVF, KFD, and OHF), pericarditis (Lassa), and renal
insufficiency (HFRS).[129] Treatment is supportive with special attention to fluid and electrolyte balance, and treatment for shock,
blood loss, renal failure, seizures, and coma. These may require intensive care interventions such as
mechanical ventilation, dialysis, and neurological support. The role of heparin therapy for DIC is controversial and should be reserved for patients with clinically
significant hemorrhage and laboratory evidence of DIC. Aspirin and other medications that impair platelet
function are contraindicated, as are intramuscular injections. The use of intravascular devices needs to be
carefully considered in the context of potential benefit versus the risk of hemorrhage. Surgical
interventions should be offered if indicated.[25,129] Specific antiviral therapy is limited. Clinical studies support the use of intravenous ribavirin for the
treatment of Lassa fever, Argentine and Bolivian hemorrhagic fevers, hemorrhagic fever with renal
syndrome due to Hantaan virus, and CCHF.[131] Intravenous and oral ribavirin are available through
human use protocol only but are reasonable options for any infection due to an Arenavirus or
Bunyavirus.[129] Immunotherapy with convalescent plasma has been beneficial in the treatment of Argentine and Bolivian 16 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm hemorrhagic fevers.[129,133] Passive immunization does not work, however, for Lassa fever[134] or
CCHF.[135] A live attenuated yellow fever vaccine is the only licensed immunization for the viral hemorrhagic fevers
available in the United States. A live, attenuated vaccine against Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever (Junin
virus) has proven safe and effective in endemic areas. It also protects monkeys against aerosol exposure to
Bolivian Hemorrhagic Fever (Machupo).[129] Other investigational vaccines include a
formalin-inactivated vaccine and a live attenuated vaccine for Rift Valley fever and a vaccinia-vectored
vaccine against HFRS due to Hantaan virus.[44,129] Cutaneous Manifestations Hemorrhagic fevers may produce a variety of cutaneous manifestations. Most of these are due to vascular
instability and bleeding. Flushing, petechiae, purpura, ecchymoses, and edema may occur in the discussed
diseases except for Rift Valley Fever. No skin manifestations are typically associated with this disease.[44] Lassa Fever patients have a high incidence of facial edema, probably due to extensive capillary leak Figure 22: Old World Arenavirus-Lassa Fever. Patient with Lassa Fever during an outbreak in Liberia in 1988. Note
the periorbital edema and conjunctival hemorrhage. Lassa fever patients typically exhibit significant edema without
hemorrhagic manifestations (Reprinted with permission from Atlas of Infectious Diseases Volume VII: External
manifestatins of systemic infections. Mandel GL, Fekety R, editors. Viral hemorrhagic fevers. Chapter 10. Peters CJ,
Zaki SR, Rollin PE. Churchill-Livingstone. Philidelphia. 1997. Skin eruptions are uncommon.[44,129] The South American arenaviruses more commonly cause
petechiae, purpura, ecchymoses, and palatal hyperemia. Figures 24a, b: New World Arenavirus-Junin. (a) Conjunctival hemorrhage in a patient with Argentine Hemorrhagic
Fever caused by Junin virus. (b) Gingival bleeding in a patient with Argentine Hemorrhagic Fever. (Reprinted with
permission from Atlas of Infectious Diseases Volume VII: External manifestatins of systemic infections. Mandel GL, Fekety R, editors. Viral
hemorrhagic fevers. Chapter 10. Peters CJ, Zaki SR, Rollin PE. Churchill-Livingstone. Philidelphia. 1997. 17 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure25: Site of Sabia virus infections in Brazil. (Courtesy of Peter B. Jahrling, PhD) Figure 26: New World Arenavirus-Machupo. Oral mucosal hyperemia and hemorrhage in a patient with Bolivian
Hemorrhagic Fever caused by Machupo virus (Photo courtesy of C.J. Peters, M.D.) Cutaneous manifestations of HFRS appear on about day three of illness. A petechial rash manifests on the
neck, anterior and posterior axillary folds, upper arms, and thorax. A morbilliform eruption may also
occur. Flushing may be seen about the head, neck, and upper torso. This may be most apparent in a malar
distribution as a `sunburn flush' accompanied by facial edema. Dermatographism is often present.
Hemorrhages are often seen on mucosal surfaces and may be severe in the conjunctivae.[9,42,75] Of the
other Bunyaviruses, Rift Valley Fever typically causes no skin lesions while CCHF patients generally
develop the worst hemorrhagic manifestations Figure 27: Bunyavirus infection- CCHF Virus. Ecchymoses encompassing left upper extremity one week after onset of
CCHF. Ecchymoses are often accompanied by hemorrhage in other locations: epistaxis, puncture sites, hematemesis,
melena, and hematuria. Reprinted from Jahrling PB. Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. Chapter 29 In :Sidell FR, Takafuji
ET, Franz DR, eds., Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook
of Military Medicine. Washington, DC: US Department of the Army, Office of the Surgeon General, and Borden
Institute; 1997:595. Photo courtesy Robert Swaneopoel, PhD, DTVM, MRCVS, National Institute of Virology,
Sandringham, South Africa. 18 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure 28: Bunyavirus
Infection-CCHF Virus.
Ecchymoses complicating Figure 30: Bunyavirus Figure 31: Bunyavirus
CCHF. (Reprinted with Infection- Hantaan Virus. Infection. Another patient
permission from Atlas of Figure 29: Apodemus Patient with Korean with Korean Hemorrhagic
Infectious Diseases Volume agrarius, the vector of Korean Hemorrhagic Fever Fever demonstrating
VII: External manifestatins of Hemorrhagic Fever . caused by Hantaan virus conjunctival hemorrhages,
systemic infections. Mandel (Courtesy David McClain, demonstrating typical facial petechiae, and
GL, Fekety R, editors. Viral MD) 'sunburn flush' of cheeks. 'sunburn flush' of cheeks.
hemorrhagic fevers. Chapter (Photo courtesy of John (Photo courtesy of John
10. Peters CJ, Zaki SR, Rollin Huggins, PhD.) Huggins, PhD.)
PE. Churchill-Livingstone.
Philidelphia. 1997. Figure 32: Charcol pit in Kikwit, Zaire (Democratic republic of the Congo), site of 1995 Ebola fever outbreak.
(Courtesy Peter B. Jahrling, PhD.) The Filovirus diseases frequently exhibit an exanthem, particularly noted in lighter-skinned patients.
Filovirus disease presents with a deep reddening of the soft palate that spreads to the hard palate . Figure 33: Filovirus disease- Ebola Fever. Patient with Ebola hemorrhagic fever during 1976 outbreak in Zaire
demonstrating palatal petechiae and hemorrhage. (Photo courtesy Joel Breman) The most reliable diagnostic sign is a pin-head-sized papular, erythematous eruption appearing at days 5-7
on the buttocks, trunk, and lateral arms. After 24 hours, the eruption develops into large, well-demarcated,
coalescent macules and papules. In some cases, the rash appears hemorrhagic. In severe cases, a dark, livid
erythema develops on the face, trunk, and extremities that disappears in several days. Cyanosis sometimes
accompanies the erythema. After the 16th day, palms, soles, dorsal feet, and extremities desquamate for a
few days to two weeks. The exanthem is often accompanied by scrotal dermatitis or labial
erythema.[89,90] Like Marburg disease, Ebola fever starts abruptly with fever, myalgias, headache, and other influenza-like
symptoms. Early findings include conjunctival injection and adenopathy. Around day 5, a morbilliform
eruption followed by petechiae, ecchymoses, and even hemorrhage is seen. Most commonly, the rash is 19 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm nonpruritic, maculopapular, and centripetal with variable erythema that desquamates by day 7. Patients
have expressionless, ghost-like facies. Psychosis, delirium, seizures, and coma are often noted. With
progressive disease, hemorrhage exudes from mucous membranes, venipuncture sites, and body orifices.
Death occurs between six and 16 days after hemorrhage begins. Mortality rate in pregnancy is
100%.[44,56] Death is due to a combination of hemorrhage, capillary leak, shock due to vasodilatation
and hemodynamic deregulation, and end organ failure.[129] Dengue typically features a morbilliform eruption sparing the palms and soles. Infection due to one of the
four serotypes grants lifelong immunity to that serotype only, and predisposes to dengue hemorrhagic
fever or dengue shock syndrome following reinfection due to a heterologous strain.[44,132] Figure 34: Patient with mornilliform exanthem of dengue fever. Note islands of sparing characteristic for dengue.
(Photo courtesy Duane Gubler, PhD.) Figure 35: Patient with dengue hemorrhagic fever complicated by ecchymoses. (Photo courtesy Duane Gubler, PhD.) The only cutaneous manifestation of Yellow Fever is jaundice. The tick-borne Flavivirus diseases (Omsk
HF and Kyasanur Forest Disease) can cause any of the hemorrhagic manifestations listed above. BW Considerations Hemorrhagic fever viruses cause high morbidity and, in some cases, high mortality. Some may replicate
well enough in cell culture to permit weaponization.[105] Filoviruses could be maliciously adapted as BW agents because they are highly infectious, lethal, and can
be stabilized for aerosol dissemination. The Russians experimented with filoviruses as potential BW
agents, but apparently discontinued development in the mid-1990s for financial reasons. They successfully
enhanced the viability of aerosolized filoviruses.[10] Marburg virus can be stabilized in 10% glycerin so
that viral inactivation occurs at a rate of 1.5%/minute instead of 11.5%/minute. This rate of inactivation is in the range of that for influenza virus (1.9%/minute) which spreads naturally by aerosol.[10,59]
Filoviruses, however, are considered too dangerous to use because of the lack of protective vaccines and
therapeutic measures to protect the users.[2] The Russians evaluated CCHF as a BW agent, but did not
weaponize it.[2] The susceptibility of Bunyaviruses to heat, drying, and ultraviolet light make them poor
candidates as BW agents.[2] Hantaviruses replicate poorly in cell culture and are not considered to be
significant BW threats. The Flaviviridae are unlikely to be used as BW agents. Dengue is not infectious by
aerosol, and troops are routinely immunized for yellow fever. 20 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm CUTANEOUS COMPLICATIONS OF BW PREVENTION VIRAL AGENT Vaccinia The Orthopox virus vaccinia is distinct from cowpox, has little virulence for immunocompetent humans,
and has recently been used as a vector for experimental vaccines.[13] Vaccinia would not be used as a BW
agent, but it could cause disease when used to prevent smallpox. The origin of vaccinia is obscure; it may
have developed from an extinct animal poxvirus, such as horsepox, or may represent a cowpox mutant,
which developed during multiple human passages during the early vaccine era.[125] Smallpox vaccine
was prepared (until production stopped in 1983) by inoculating shaved abdomens of calves, sheep, or
water buffalo.[114] Infectious exudative lymph was harvested from inoculation sites and bottled with
phenol and brilliant green as bacteriostatic agents. Human cell culture-derived vaccinia is being developed
at USAMRIID. Vaccine is administered percutaneously with a bifurcated needle. This process became known as
`scarification' because of the resulting permanent scar.[114] Infectious virus replicated in the lesion. It was
early determined that vaccinees who received vaccinia by intramuscular injection developed weaker
immune responses than those vaccinated by scarification. Scarified patients that develop pox lesions
develop 3-fold higher ELISA titers and 10-fold greater plaque reduction neutralization titers than those
who develop no pox lesion.[13] Clinical Response to Vaccination Primary vaccinees usually developed a pustule surrounded by induration 6-8 days after vaccination. This
`major reaction' was required to confer protective immunity and occurred in about 95% of primary
vaccinees. All other reactions were termed `equivocal.' Figure 36: Major reaction to vaccinia consisting of a pustule with surrounding induration. This reaction refleacted
active viral replication in the epidermis and the mounting of an immune response by the recipient. (Photo courtesty of
David J.McClain, MD) The remaining scar was usually about 1 cm in diameter. A rare but severe non-cutaneous side effect of
vaccination was post-infectious encephalitis similar to post-measles encephalitis.[15] Vaccinia provides at
least three years of protection after vaccination.[127] 21 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure 37: Vaccinia: Scar (scarification). (Photo courtesy of James D. Arthur, MD) Cutaneous Complications of Vaccinia Cutaneous complications were at least 10 times more common in primary vaccinees than
revaccinees.[118] The most severe cutaneous complication, vaccinia necrosum (vaccinia gangrenosum,
progressive vaccinia), occurred in 12.3 per million primary vaccinees.[15,18,126] Vaccinees with cellular
immunodeficiencies developed relentlessly progressive pox lesions and even metastatic lesions.[118,128]
Fatal cases showed no evidence of resolution, no adenopathy, and no erythema. Death occurred in 13/17
(76%) of documented cases.[127]
Figures 38a,b: Vaccinia necrosum (progressive vaccinia, vaccinia gangrenosum) represents progressive viral
replication in an immunocompromised individual leading to inexorable tissue destruction. Reprinted with permission
from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World
Health Organization; 1988:10-14. Photographs byCH Kempe) Eczema vaccinatum with hundreds of pox lesions occurred in active atopic dermatitis patients who were
vaccinated or merely exposed to a recent vaccinee. Mortality was 10-14%.[15,118] Patients were treated
with vaccinia immune globulin 0.6 cc/kg/24 hours until no new lesion appeared.[15] Only 1.5
cases/million primary vaccinees were reported in a U.S. survey.[126] This low rate can likely be explained
by the fact that atopic dermatitis was a contraindication to vaccination.[118] 22 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure 39: Child with eczema vaccinatum. Reprinted with permission from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita I, Jezek Z,
Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1988:298. (Photograph by
ID Ladnyi) Accidental vaccinia infection occurred among 241.5 per million primary vaccinees by autoinoculation to
another body site or to another person (secondary inoculation) via intimate contact (Figure accidental
vaccinia).[126] Ocular vaccinia was one of the most troublesome forms of accidental inoculation.[118] Figure 40: Accidental oculsr inoculation of vaccinia. Corneal scarring and visual impairment may result. This
complication is managed aggressively with topical antiviral drugs. Reprinted with permission from Fenner F, Henderson DA, Arita
I, Jezek Z, Ladnyi ID. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 1988:298. Photographs by CH Kempe) Generalized vaccinia is a non-specific term applied to a vesicular eruption developing after primary
vaccination. After about 7-12 days, patients developed a rash with many small vesicles on erythematous
bases. Patients with generalized vaccinia are non-toxic, afebrile, and not viremic.[15] This self-limited
complication generally resolved in 6-9 days in the 38.5 per million primary vaccinees who contracted
it.[114,126] Figure 41: Generalized vaccinia after vaccination. (Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Dermatology Slide File) Seven to twelve days after vaccination, some patients develop erythematous urticarial eruptions that
resemble enterovirus or roseola exanthems. Other complications may occur such as melanoma or BCC in vaccination scars. Bullous erythema
multiforme, overwhelming and fatal viremia in infants, and fetal vaccinia have also been reported.[15] 23 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm AGENTS WITH CUTANEOUS MANIFESTATIONS OF ENDEMIC, BUT NOT
BW-ASSOCIATED DISEASE BACTERIAL AGENT Bacillus anthracis Bacillus anthracis is a gram-positive sporulating bacillus. The spores are resistant to heat, cold, drying,
and chemical disinfection.[41] Spores remain viable for at least several years (up to 200 years in one
study[47]) in the top six cm of soil and in animal products.[26,33,47] Animals that die of anthrax release
massive quantities of spores into the soil which may remain for decades before being ingested again.
Burying animal carcasses is probably of little use in disrupting transmission since Pasteur showed that
earthworms will carry spores back to the surface![41] Animal carcasses should be burned, not buried, to
prevent long-term environmental contamination.[61] Anthrax is endemic in western Asia (Afghanistan, Iran, and Turkey) and western Africa.[26] Disease is
transmitted from infected animals or their products via skin abrasions in more than 90% of
cases.[27,33,47] Less commonly, ingestion or inhalation of spores transmits anthrax. Figure 42: Typical site where cutaneous anthrax is Figure 43: Burning rhinocerous carcass after death from
acquired: close proximity to sheep and goats. anthrax. Burying such an animal will only result in high
concentrations of anthrax spores in the soil. Clinical Findings Gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax is exceedingly rare and has never been reported in the U.S.[27] Patients
present with ulcerative mucosal eschars that can perforate viscera thus producing abdominal pain,
diarrhea, and acute infection. Secondary meningitis has occurred from primary GI disease, but any form of
anthrax can progress to septicemia or meningitis.[26,79] Pulmonary anthrax, or `wool-sorter's disease,' is an extraordinarily rare form of anthrax; only 18 cases
were reported in the U.S. between 1900 and 1980.[27] Anthrax would undoubtedly be used in this form as
a BW agent.[105] This usually fatal disease starts as a vague prodrome with fever, malaise, myalgias and
cough.[26,27] During the next several days, these non-specific symptoms may be rapidly followed by
precordial discomfort, cyanosis, stridor, diaphoresis, moist rales, pleural effusion, and death.[27,41] The
initial symptoms mimic any number of influenza-like infections. The disease is difficult to diagnose in the
early, treatable stage.[62] Inhaled spores are engulfed by alveolar macrophages and transported through lymphatics to
tracheobronchial lymph nodes within four hours; they replicate in hilar nodes within 18-24 hours. The
median lethal inhaled dose is 10,000 spores (range 8000-50,000 spores)[105] that are two to five microns
in diameter. The spores can retain viability in the lungs up to 100 days![58] Germination of spores in the 24 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm hilar nodes leads to hemorrhagic mediastinitis, but not true pneumonia.[62,79] A widened mediastinum
on chest X-ray is diagnostically helpful. Overwhelming infection leads to uncontrolled intravascular
multiplication of bacilli and fatal toxemia characterized by hypotension and hemorrhage.[62] Anthrax is generally sensitive to penicillin, however, rare beta-lactamase positive strains have been
isolated. Ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol are alternative
drugs.[62] Cutaneous Manifestations Cutaneous disease begins as a small, painless, red macule that progresses to a papule that vesiculates,
ruptures, ulcerates, and forms a 1-5 cm[69] diameter brown or black eschar. Figure 45: Typical heaped-up ulcer of tularemia on the scalp. (Reprinted from McGovern TW, Friedlander AM.
Plague. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, eds. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Chapter 23
In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook of Military Medicine. Washington, DC: US Department of the Army, Office
of the Surgeon General, and Borden Institute; 1997:505.
Lesions usually appear within two weeks after handling sick animals or eating their meat, however,
incubation periods of over eight weeks are not unknown.[41,62,68] The black eschar gave rise to the name
`anthrax' derived from the Greek word anthrakos meaning `coal.'[41,68] Lesions are not purulent in the
absence of superinfection.[62] Satellite lesions and significant edema may surround the initial eschar. Even with prompt antibiotic therapy, cutaneous lesions progress through the eschar phase. Antibiotics
have no effect on the skin lesion except to sterilize it.[68] Debridement of skin lesions is contraindicated
because of the risk of spreading infection.[26] While 80-90% of lesions heal spontaneously, 10-20% of
untreated cases may progress to malignant edema, septicemia, shock, renal failure, and death. Fatalities are
uncommon with therapy.[62] BW Considerations In a BW scenario, anthrax would most likely be disseminated in aerosol form because the stable spores
could cause rapid death in a high percentage of those exposed. In April and May 1979, at least 66 people
died during an epidemic of inhalational anthrax in Sverdlovsk, Russia (now Ekaterinburg) following an
accidental release of aerosolized spores.[41] All victims had hemorrhagic mediastinitis. It has been
estimated that the release of less than one gram of spores caused this outbreak.[63] This accident
demonstrated the silent and deadly nature of an aerosol BW attack. Larger quantities of spores released in
an urban setting could be an inexpensive and effective terrorist weapon. Anthrax spores were weaponized by Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States in the 1940s, 25 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm 1950s, and 1960s before their offensive programs were terminated. Iraq admitted to a United Nations
inspection team in 1995 that they had weaponized anthrax.[105,110] BACTERIAL AGENT Francisella tularensis First described in 1907, Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative, pleomorphic coccobacillus with two
serotypes: infection with type A carries a 5% mortality rate while type B causes much milder
disease.[34,37] The bacterium can persist for months in mud, water, and decaying animal carcasses,
however, it is normally maintained in wild rabbits, squirrels, sheep, beavers, meadow voles, and
muskrats.[34,36] Dozens of biting and blood-sucking insects serve as vectors, and ticks pass the bacilli on
to offspring trans-ovarially. Dermacentor andersonii (Rocky Mountain wood tick), Dermacentor
variabilis (Pacific coast dog tick), and Amblyomma americanum (Lone Star tick) are the main vectors in
the United States.[34] Ticks transmit disease during spring and summer in the southwestern and central
states while rabbit exposure during the winter accounts for most exposure in southeastern states.[36] Clinical Findings Tularemia is highly endemic in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas.[34] In the decade ending in 1988,
2356 cases were reported in the United States with 24 deaths (1% mortality).[36] Each of the six clinical
forms starts with sudden onset of fever, chills, headache, and generalized myalgias and arthralgias after an
incubation period of 3-6 days.[114] An ulcer is generally seen at the bite site and may persist several
months as organisms spread to local lymph nodes. Untreated, mortality is 8% for all types[34], 4% for
ulceroglandular tularemia, and 35% for the typhoidal type.[114] With appropriate treatment, mortality is
1-2.5%.[114] One episode usually guarantees lifelong immunity.[34] Skin or a mucous membrane acts as the portal of entry for tick bites, other arthropod bites, or abrasions.
Rarely, inhaled or ingested organisms cause disease. At least 108 organisms are necessary to cause
gastrointestinal disease; only 10 organisms can cause cutaneous or pulmonary infection.[114] Local
multiplication of F. tularensis causes a tender, red, pruritic papule that rapidly enlarges to form an ulcer
with a black base. The organism then spreads to lymph nodes and causes bacteremia. Conjunctival
inoculation leads to local adenopathy. Pneumonia occurs secondary to bacteremia or primarily via
aerosolization. Lungs develop foci of alveolar necrosis and neutrophilic infiltrates. Chest x-ray reveals
bilateral patchy infiltrates but not large areas of consolidation.[34] Tularemia classically presents as one of six clinical syndromes: Ulceroglandular: the most common form of tularemia. With the
glandular form, it accounts for 75-85% of naturally occurring cases.
The erythematous, indurated, non-healing, punched-out ulcer lasts
1-3 weeks. Local lymph nodes may be fluctuant and drain
spontaneously. Suppuration of lymph nodes may occur up to 3
weeks after treatment.[34] The differential diagnosis of
ulceroglandular tularemia includes sporotrichosis, cat scratch
disease, mononucleosis, lymphangitis, lymphogranuloma venereum,
plague, and Pasteurella infections.[36] 26 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Glandular: the second most common form. Glandular tularemia
follows inoculation of the skin via arthropod vectors and most
commonly afflicts the inguinal and femoral lymph nodes in adults
and the cervical nodes in children.[34] Oculoglandular: Inoculation of periorbital skin or the conjunctiva by
arthropod vectors or aerosols leads to the development of
oculoglandular tularemia.[34] Oropharyngeal or gastrointestinal: This form follows ingestion of
undercooked meat or direct inoculation from the hands to the
mouth.[34] Pharyngitis occurs in up to 25% of tularemia patients.
The pharynx may be erythematous or may present with petechiae,
ecchymoses, ulcers, and/or exudates.[114] Typhoidal: Only 10-50 organisms need be inhaled to cause
typhoidal tularemia. While rare in the United States, it is the
septicemic form of disease occurring without skin lesions or
lymphadenopathy. One must suspect tularemia to make the
diagnosis in time for effective treatment. The disease mortality
ranges from 30-60%.[34] Pulmonary: Pulmonary tularemia develops in 10-30% of those with
ulceroglandular disease and in 50-80% of those with typhoidal
tularemia.[34,115] Patients present with a non-productive cough
with dyspnea or pleuritic chest pain. Chest x-rays reveal a variable
parenchymal infiltrate. Up to 30% of patients die.[34] The
differential diagnosis includes Q fever, mycoplasma, psittacosis,
histoplasmosis, and coccidioidomycosis.[36] A live-attenuated vaccine is available for individuals at risk (field or laboratory workers) and protects
individuals against an aerosol challenge of F. tularensis.[114] Streptomycin is the drug of choice for
adults.[114] Gentamicin, tetracycline, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, and ceftazidime are also
effective. Cutaneous Manifestations A chancre-like ulcer forms at the site of bacterial inoculation in 60% of patients.[114] About 85% of
patients develop enlarged lymph nodes[114], some of which present as fluctuant buboes.[116] Mucous
membrane lesions in the pharynx commonly accompany aerosol-induced disease.[114] A morbilliform
eruption has been reported in a minority of patients with systemic disease.[34] 27 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Figure 44: Ulceroglandular tularemia demonstrating inoculation site on cheek and cervical lymphadenopathy.
(Fitzsimons Army Medical Center Dermatology Slide File). BW Considerations Tularemia was weaponized by the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. Other countries may have
weaponized this agent for delivery by aerosol.[105] Both typhoidal and pulmonary tularemia may result
from inhalation of bacilli,[105] and mucous membrane lesions could accompany inhalational
disease.[114] The rapid onset of action, non-specific nature of complaints in those affected, and the
difficulty in identifying and culturing the organism make it a potential threat agent.[114] RECOGNIZING A BIOLOGICAL WARFARE ATTACK [91,105] Because the primary threat from BW agents today is from terrorists, civilians in densely populated
regions would be likely targets. Therefore, civilian medical personnel need to be aware of how a BW
attack would present to minimize its effects. We cannot presume that such an attack would never
happen.[105,106] Fortunately, the United States government has seen the need for increased education.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and local emergency responders and care givers are learning
how to recognize and respond to a BW assault.[106] With current technology, an enemy could complete a BW attack before the local commander or medical
officer would know anything had happened. Large and steadily increasing numbers of casualties would
present in a shorter period than for a natural epidemic. There may be a large number of rapidly fatal cases
with few recognizable signs and symptoms. Multiple diseases could present simultaneously. Vector-borne
diseases will appear without natural outbreaks in animals. BW agents would likely have a high attack rate
among exposed individuals, and the disease would often be unusual for the geographic area. Because most
agents would be delivered in aerosol clouds, many patients would have pulmonary disease caused by
agents that don't usually cause pulmonary disease (anthrax, plague, staphylococcal enterotoxin
B).[105,91,5] Unlike conventional warfare, BW attacks would generally allow time for an effective emergency response
to save many lives.[109] Table 1. Estimated casualties for BW attack on a city of 500,000 (see text for details). 28 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm AGENT DOWNWIND REACH (km) DEAD INCAPACITATED
Rift Valley Fever 1 400 35,000
Tick-borne encephalitis 1 9500 35,000
Typhus 5 19,000 85,000
Brucellosis 10 500 100,000
Q-fever >20 150 125,000
Tularemia >20 30,000 125,000
Anthrax >20 95,000 125,000 Table 2. Potential BW threat agents, effects and likely routes of exposure. This is not to be construed as an
official threat list. Diseases in bold cause cutaneous findings if disease is contracted from aerosol
exposure. Underlined diseases cause cutaneous manifestations in endemic disease but not in
aerosol-generated disease. Agent Class Agent Personnel Effect Route (BW) Skin Bacterial Anthrax L R E Brucellosis I R, P Cholera I, L G Melioidosis I, L R E, BW Plague L R E, BW Q Fever I R Tularemia L R E Toxins Botulinum L R Mycotoxins L R, G, D BW Ricin L R, G, P Staph enterotoxin B I R, G Viral Argentine HF I R E, BW Bolivian HF I R E, BW Congo-Crimean HF L R E, BW Ebola HF L R E, BW Hantaviruses I, L R E, BW Lassa HF I, L R E, BW Marburg HF L R E, BW 29 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Rift Valley Fever L R Smallpox L R E, BW Venezuelan Equine
Encephalitits I R
ncephEEncephalitis HF = hemorrhagic fever, L = lethal, I = incapacitating, R = respiratory, G = gastrointestinal, P = percutaneous, D = dermal, E =
endemic disease, BW = BW-induced disease Table 3. Hemmorrhagic fever viruses categorized by geography, reservoir, and incubation period. .Disease Geography Source of Human Infection Incubation
CCHF Europe Africa, Asia Tick 3-12 days
Dengue HF Asia, Amer, Africa Mosquito 3-15 days
HFRS World-wide Rodent 9-35 days
Junin/Machupo X Rodent 7-14 days
KFD Omsk India/Russia Tick (muskrat-contaminated water) 3-8 days
Lassa Africa Rodent, Nosocomial 5-16 days
Marburg/Ebola Africa Unknown, Nosocomial 3-16 days
RVF Africa Mosquito 2-5 days
Yellow Fever Trop. Africa, S.Am Mosquito 3-15 days Bibliography 1. Cieslak T. Introduction to USAMRIID and Overview of Biological Warfare and Bioterrorism. Course Notes Anonymous1997;
1-8. 2. Jahrling P Anonymous1997; Viral hemorrhagic fevers. 3. Manchee RJ, Stewart WDP. The decontamination of Gruinard Island. Chem Brit 1988; 690-691. 4. Sanford JP. Pseudomonas species (including melioidosis and glanders). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors.
Principles and practice of infectious diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1997:2003-2009. 5. McGovern TW, Friedlander A. Plague. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, editors. Medical Aspects of Chemical and
Biological Warfare. . Falls Church, VA: Office of The Surgeon General, United States Army, 1997:479-502. 6. Butler T. Yersinia species (including plague). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and practice of
infectious diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1997:2070-2078. 7. Richards CA. Stachybotrys atra suspected in three infant deaths: 18 others sickened. Infectious Diseases in Children 1997;
10:1+-8. 30 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm 8. Wannemacher RW, Jr., Wiener SL. Trichothecene mycotoxins. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, editors. Medical Aspects
of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Falls Church, VA: Office of The Surgeon General, United States Army, 1997:655-676. 9. Takami RM. Epidemic hemorrhagic fever. 1951; Medical Section, GHQ, FEC: United States Army. 1 p. 10. Belanov YF, Muntyanov VP, Kryuk VD, Sokolov AV, Bormotov NI, P'yankov OV, et al. Retention of Marburg virus
infecting capability on contaminated surfaces and in aerosol particles. Voprosy virusologii 1996; 32-34. 11. Anonymous. WHO sets date to destroy smallpox stocks. Public Health Reports 1996; 111:388 12. Empson J. Country doctor and speckled monster. Nature 1996; 381:26 13. McClain DJ, Harrison S, Yeager CL, Cruz J, Ennis FA, Gibbs P, et al. Immunologic responses to vaccinia vaccines
administered by different parenteral routes. J Infect Dis 1997; 175:756-763. To develop a less reactogenic but equally immunogenic vaccine, this study of 91 human volunteers compared the
safety and
immunogenic potency of a new, cell culture-derived vaccinia virus vaccine administered intradermally and
intramuscularly with
the licensed vaccinia vaccine administered by scarification. Cutaneous pox lesions developed in a higher
proportion of
scarification vaccinees. Scarification and intradermal vaccine recipients who developed cutaneous pox lesions had
more local
reactions but also achieved significantly higher cell-mediated and neutralizing antibody responses than those who
did not develop
pox lesions. Although less reactogenic, intradermal or intramuscular administration of vaccinia vaccine without
the concomitant
development of a cutaneous pox lesion induced lower immune responses. 14. Neff JM. Introduction (Poxviridae). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and Practice of Infectious
Diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1995:1325 15. Neff JM. Vaccinia virus (cowpox). In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and practice of infectious
diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1995:1325-1328 16. Neff JM. Variola (smallpox) and monkeypox viruses. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, editors. Principles and Practice of
Infectious Diseases. 4th ed. New York: Churchill Livingston, 1995:1328-1329. 17. Mwamba PT, Tshioko KF, Moudi A, Mukinda V, Mwema GN, Messinger D, et al. Human monkeypox - Kasai Oriental,
Zaire, 1996-1997. Morb Mort Wk Rep 1997; 46:304-307. Monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus with enzootic circulation in rainforests of central and western Africa; the virus can
be
transmitted to humans and cause a syndrome clinically similar to smallpox (e.g., pustular rash, fever, respiratory
symptoms, and
in some cases, death). From February through August 1996, a total of 71 clinical cases of monkeypox, including
six deaths,
occurred in 13 villages in Africa in the Katako-Kombe health zone (1996 combined population: 15,698), Sankuru
subregion,
Kasai Oriental, Zaire. During the initial investigation of this cluster of human cases, specimens of serum and/or
crusted scab or
fluid from vesicles were collected from 11 patients, and monkeypox virus infection was confirmed in all 11
patients by the World
Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Smallpox and Other Poxvirus Infections at CDC.
Preliminary DNA
phylogenetic studies of this strain of virus indicated only minor genetic variation compared with other strains of
monkeypox virus
from Zaire collected during 1970--1979. Because of reports by local public health officials of ongoing disease
transmission, the 31 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm Zaire Ministry of Health and WHO organized a follow-up investigation in February 1997 to characterize the
magnitude of the
outbreak. This report summarizes the preliminary results of the ongoing multidis-ciplinary investigation, which
suggest that
person-to-person transmission accounted for most monkeypox cases investigated in 1996 and 1997; in contrast,
during previous
years, reports were primarily for sporadic cases that resulted from animal-to-human transmission. 18. Baxby D. Poxviruses. In: Belshe RB, editor. Textbook of Human Virology. Littleton, MA: PSG Publishing Co.
1984:929-948. 19. Peters W, Gilles HM. Color Atlas of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology. 4th ed. Barcelona: Mosby-Wolfe, 1995. 20. Immunizations and chemoprophylaxis. 1995; 40-562: Army Regulation. 21. Anonymous The NIV Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985. 22. Anthrax. 1995; 23. Swartz MN, Weinberg AN. Miscellaneous bacterial infections with cutaneous manifestations. In: Fitzpatrick TB, Eisen AZ,
Wolff K, Freedberg IM, Austen KF, editors. Dermatology in General Medicine. 4th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill,
1993:2354-2370. 24. Highet AS, Hay RJ, Roberts SOB. Bacterial infections. In: Champion RH, Burton JL, Ebling FJG, editors. Textbook of
dermatology. 5th ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific, 1992:953-1032. 25. Anonymous. Update: Management of patients with suspected viral hemorrhagic fever - United States. J Am Med Assoc 1995;
274:374-375. 26. Burnett JW. Anthrax. Cutis 1991; 48:113-114. 27. Walker DH, Yampolska O, Grinberg LM. Death at Sverdlovsk: What have we learned. Am J Pathol 1994; 144:1135-1141. 28. Berthier M, Fauchere J-L, Perrin J, Brignon B, Oriot D. Fulminant meningitis due to Bacillus anthracis in 11-year-old girl
during Ramadan. Lancet 1996; 347:828 29. Dearborn DG, Smith PG, Brooks LJ, Carroll-Pankhurst C, Kosick R, Dahms BB. Update: Pulmonary
hemorrhage/hemosiderosis among infants - Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996. Morb Mort Wk Rep 1997; 46:33-35. In November 1994, private physicians and public health officials in Cleveland, Ohio, and CDC reported a cluster
of eight cases of
acute pulmonary hemorrhage/ hemosiderosis that had occurred during January 1993--November 1994 among
infants in one area
of the city. Two additional cases were identified in December 1994. All 10 infants lived within seven contiguous
postal tracts in
eastern metropolitan Cleveland. Pulmonary hemorrhages recurred in five of the infants after they returned to their
homes shortly
after hospital discharge; one infant died as a result of pulmonary hemorrhage. This report summarizes the findings
of the
follow-up investigation, including a case-control study and an assessment by the county coroner of cases of infant
death. These
findings documented an association between acute pulmonary hemorrhage/hemosiderosis in this cluster of cases
and mold growth
in their water-damaged homes. 30. Simpson DIH. The filovirus enigma. Lancet 1995; 345:1252-1253. 31. Marwick C. Floods carry potential for toxic mold disease. J Am Med Assoc 1997; 277:1342 32 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm 32. Fisher-Hoch SP, Tomori O, Nasidi A, Perez-Oronoz GI, Fakile Y, Hutwagner L, et al. Review of cases of nosocomial Lassa
fever in Nigeria: the high price of poor medical practice. Brit Med J 1995; 311:857-859. OBJECTIVE--To investigate two hospital outbreaks of Lassa fever in southern central Nigeria.
SETTING--Hospitals and clinics
in urban and rural areas of Imo State, Nigeria. DESIGN--Medical records were reviewed in hospitals and clinics
in both areas.
Patients with presumed and laboratory confirmed Lassa fever were identified and contracts traced. Hospital staff,
patients, and
local residents were questioned, records were carefully reviewed, and serum samples were taken. Serum samples
were assayed
for antibody specific to Lassa virus, and isolates of Lassa virus were obtained. RESULTS--Among 34 patients
with Lassa fever,
including 20 patients, six nurses, two surgeons, one physician, and the son of a patient, there were 22 deaths (65%
fatality rate).
Eleven cases were laboratory confirmed, five by isolation of virus. Most patients had been exposed in hospitals
(attack rate in
patients in one hospital 55%). Both outbreak hospitals were inadequately equipped and staffed, with poor medical
practice.
Compelling, indirect evidence revealed that parenteral drug rounds with sharing of syringes, conducted by
minimally educated
and supervised staff, fueled the epidemic among patients. Staff were subsequently infected during emergency
surgery and while
caring for nosocomially infected patients. CONCLUSION--This outbreak illustrates the high price exacted by the
practice of
modern medicine, particularly use of parenteral injections and surgery, without due attention to good medical
practice. High
priority must be given to education of medical staff in developing countries and to guidelines for safe operation of
clinics and
hospitals. Failure to do so will have far reaching, costly, and ultimately devastating consequences. 33. John TJ. Emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens in India. Indian J Med Res 1996; 103:4-18. In spite of major successes against infectious diseases in the 20th century, new infectious diseases have emerged
and old ones
re-emerged in recent decades in different parts of the world. A brief survey of emerging and re-emerging bacterial
diseases of
public health importance in India is presented in this paper. Plague re-appeared in two outbreaks in Maharashtra
and Gujarat in
1994, indicating a breakdown of the public health measures that had prevented its occurrence for several decades.
Leptospirosis
appears to be on the increase in Kerala, Tamilnadu and the Andamans during the last 2 decades, probably due to
increased
farming and inadequate rodent control. It is suggested that melioidosis due to the soil organism Burkholderia
pseudomallei may
be prevalent in many parts of India, but is under-diagnosed and under-reported. Since 1991, a completely new
choleragenic
Vibrio cholerae, designated 0139 has emerged in southern India and spread to other parts of India and to
neighbouring countries,
setting in motion the 8th cholera pandemic. Animal anthrax is very common in many parts of India, but human
anthrax is
recognised in only certain limited locations. In the Chittoor and North Arcot districts, its prevalence had increased
in recent
years. Since 1990, a multi-drug resistant variety of typhoid fever had been prevalent in many parts of India, caused
by Salmonella
typhi resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole. Nosocomial
methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus infection seems to be widely prevalent in hospitals in many regions in India, and its
prevalence seems to 33 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm be on the rise. These pathogens pose new threats to public health, and call for appropriate responses.
Microbiological expertise
and epidemiological surveillance are deficient in the health care and public health systems in India; therefore even
infections and
diseases that have been under control elsewhere remain prevalent in the country, but are also under-diagnosed and
under-reported. Without improving microbiological expertise and application as well as epidemiological skills and
practices,
emerging and re-emerging diseases may not be recognised, identified or intercepted in their early stages. 34. Jacobs RF. Tularemia. Adv Pediatr Infect Dis 1996; 12:55-69. 35. Walker DH, Barbour AG, Oliver JH, Lane RS, Durnier S, Dennis DT, et al. Emerging bacterial zoonotic and vector-borne
diseases. J Am Med Assoc 1996; 275:463-369. Among the etiologic agents of emerging infectious diseases are several bacterial organisms that naturally reside in
animal and
arthropod hosts. The most compelling emerging bacterial zoonotic and vector-borne diseases in the United States
are Lyme
disease; a Southern erythema migrans-like illness; human monocytic ehrlichiosis; human granulocytic ehrlichiosis;
a novel cat
flea-associated typhus group rickettsiosis; bartonelloses of immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons,
particularly
with AIDS; and sylvatic plague. Some of these antimicrobial-treatable infections are life threatening. During the
acute stage of
illness when antimicrobial agents are most effective, the flulike clinical signs and symptoms and available
laboratory tests
frequently do not point to a particular diagnosis. Epidemiological factors determined by the ecology of the bacteria
are often the
most useful diagnostic clues. The recognition of these evolving problems emphasizes the need for development of
better
laboratory diagnostic methods, for surveillance for and tracking of disease, and for continued research into factors
contributing to
transmission of the organisms. The continual appearance of previously unidentified bacterial infections requires
prospective
national strategies for timely recognition of the syndrome, identification of the agent, establishment of criteria and
methods for
diagnosis, optimization of the treatment regimen, and determination of successful approaches to prevention and
control. 36. Langley R, Campbell R. Tularemia in North Carolina, 1965-1990. N Carolina Med J 1995; 56:314-317. 37. U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National
Institutes of Health. Biosafety in microbiological and biomedical laboratories. HHS Publication No (CDC) 93-8395
Anonymous1993; 3rd Edition: 38. Anonymous. Zoonoses control. Weekly Epidemiol Rec 1996; 71:371-373. 39. Aronson SM. An old diagnostic test for plague. Med Health Rhode Island 1996; 79:349-350. 40. Katz AM. Nasal anthrax in Boston. Pharos 1995; 58:48-49. 41. Farrar WE. Anthrax: from Mesopotamia to molecular biology. Pharos 1995; 58:35-38. 42. Hart CA, Bennett M. Hantavirus: an increasing problem. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 1994; 88:347-358. Hantaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses and members of the Bunyaviridae family. They are transmitted from
various rodent
hosts by inhalation of infected urine, saliva or faeces. Infection in rodent hosts is inapparent but persists for life.
Person-to-person
spread of hantavirus has not been described. Two main presentations of the disease occur. Haemorrhagic fever 34 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm with renal
syndrome (HFRS) is due to Hantaan, Seoul, Puumala, Porogia and Belgrade viruses. In general HFRS due to
Hantaan, Porogia
and Belgrade viruses is more severe and has higher mortality than that due to Puumala (nephropathia epidemica)
or Seoul
viruses. Hantaan is predominant in the Far East (Korea, Japan, China), Porogia and Belgrade in the Balkans, and
Puumala in
Western Europe; Seoul has a world-wide distribution. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a recently
described infection
with high mortality (60%) due to adult respiratory distress syndrome. The virus (Muerto Canyon Virus) is a
hantavirus but
different genotypically from previous strains. Management of hantavirus infections may require bed-rest, sedation,
circulatory
and ventilatory support and renal dialysis. Ribavirin if administered early in the illness may be of benefit. 43. Walsh AL, Wuthiekanun V. The laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis. Br J Biomed Sci 1996; 53:249-253. The recognition of unusual, but important, pathogens such as Burkholderia pseudomallei is essential for the rapid
implementation
of appropriate antimicrobial therapy--delays can be fatal. Melioidosis should be considered as a potential
diagnosis for any
patient with exposure to areas of endemicity, and thus laboratories should be aware of the differential features of
the disease and
the causative organism. Isolation of B. pseudomallei is readily achieved using standard culture media such as
blood, MacConkey
or cystine-lactose-electrolyte-deficient (CLED) agars, and routine blood culture broths. Selective media,
Ashdown's agar and
selective broth, are required for respiratory tract specimens to ensure reliable isolation from amongst the normal or
contaminating
flora. These media are easily prepared from common media constituents. Colonial morphology and simple
biochemical tests will
suggest the identity of the organism, which can then be confirmed by additional tests for 'non-fermenters', such as
the API 20NE. 44. Lacy MD, Smego RA. Viral hemorrhagic fevers. Adv Pediatr Infect Dis 1996; 12:21-53. 45. Handa R, Bhatia S, Wali JP. Melioidosis: a rare but not forgotten cause of fever of unknown origin. Br J Clin Pract 1996;
50:116-117. Melioidosis is widely prevalent in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. Although it is believed to pose no
current threat to the
populations of developed countries, the increased mobility of people around the world and of Southeast Asian
refugees to
Western countries may change this. Its long incubation period may put a relatively large number of currently
asymptomatic
people at risk. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any febrile illness in a person who has visited
an endemic
area, especially if the presenting features are those of fulminant respiratory failure, if multiple pustular or necrotic
skin or
subcutaneous lesions develop, or if there is a radiologic pattern of tuberculosis from which tubercle bacilli cannot
be
demonstrated. 46. Yap EH, Thong.T.W., Tan AL, Yeo M, Tan HC, Loh H, et al. Comparison of Pseudomonas pseudomallei from humans,
animals, soil and water by restriction endonuclease analysis. Singapore Med J 1995; 36:60-62. Pseudomonas pseudomallei isolates from 62 human, 17 animal, 3 soil and 3 water samples were examined by
genomic DNA
digestion with PstI. Five major (RE I, II, III, IV, V) reproducible restriction patterns were observed, with most
(56/62) of the 35 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm human isolates displaying RE I (30/62), II (5/62), III (15/62), IV (4/62), V (2/62), and the animal (16/17), soil
(2/3), water (3/3)
isolates showing predominantly RE II profiles. Six human and one soil isolates showed patterns different from
those of RE I to V.
Restriction endonuclease analysis may be applied in epidemiological studies of melioidosis. 47. Titball RW, Turnbull PCB, Hutson RA. The monitoring and detection of Bacillus anthracis in the environment. J Appl
Bacteriol Symp 1991; 70:9S-18S. 48. Cherian T, John TJ, Ramakrishna B, Lalitha MK, Raghupathy P. Disseminated melioidosis. Indian Pediatr 1996; 33:403-406. 49. Anonymous. British soldier returns from Bosnia with HFRS. Communicable Disease Report 1996; 5:193 50. Tukei PM. Threat of Marburg and Ebola viral haemorrhagic fevers in Africa. East Afr Med J 1996; 73:27-31. Marburg and Ebola viruses are members of the filovirus family that can be regarded as recently emerged. These
viruses have
caused sporadic outbreaks of fatal haemorrhagic disease in Africa, Europe and recently in the USA. The case
fatality rates rank
among the highest ranging from 33-80%. The mode of transmission of these viruses are clearly through close
contact with blood
and body fluids. Disease outbreaks have been amplified in hospital situations with poor blood precautions. In
villages disease has
been amplified through contamination with blood and fluids during nursing the sick and burial rituals. The source
of the viruses
has eluded discovery and new theories regarding the nature of these viruses are being entertained. The threat of
new outbreaks in
Africa is real since serological evidence of the presence of the virus has been documented in Kenya, Sudan, Zaire,
Zimbabwe,
Gabon, Cote-d'Ivoire and Gabon. 51. Healing TD, Hoffman PN, Young SEJ. The infection hazards of human cadavers. Communicable Disease Report 1995;
5:R61-R68. Cadavers may pose infection hazards to people who handle them. None of the organisms that caused mass death in
the past--for
example, plague, cholera, typhoid, tuberculosis, anthrax, smallpox--is likely to survive long in buried human
remains. Items such
as mould spores or lead dust are much greater risks to those involved in exhumations. Infectious conditions and
pathogens in the
recently deceased that present particular risks include tuberculosis, group A streptococcal infection,
gastrointestinal organisms,
the agents that cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease), hepatitis B
and C viruses,
HIV, and possibly meningitis and septicaemia (especially meningococcal). The use of appropriate protective
clothing and the
observance of Control of Substances Hazardous to Health regulations, will protect all who handle cadavers against
infectious
hazards. 52. Steyn PS. Mycotoxins, general view, chemistry, structure. Toxicol Lett 1995; 82/83:843-851. Mycotoxins induce diverse and powerful biological effects in test systems; some are carcinogenic, mutagenic,
teratogenic,
estrogenic, hemorrhagic, immunotoxic, nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, dermotoxic, and neurotoxic. Mycotoxins have
been
unambiguously linked to the etiology of several diseases in animals. The discovery of aflatoxins in the early 1960s
led to the
resurgence of interest in human mycotoxicoses; mycotoxins are now recognized as causal factors of primary liver
cancer, 36 of 48 11/13/99 8:54 PM BIOLOGICAL WARFARE http://www.telemedicine.org/BioWar/biologic.htm ergotism and alimentary toxic aleukia. The fumonisins and ochratoxins are suspected of playing a role in the
etiology of
esophageal cancer and Balkan endemic nephrotoxicity, respectively. 53. Neal GE. Genetic implications in the metabolism and toxicity of mycotoxins. Toxicol Lett 1995; 82/83:861-867. In common with many xenobiotics, metabolic activation and detoxification play crucial roles in the determination
of a toxic
response of animal species, including man, to exposure to mycotoxins. Control of expression of the relevant
enzymes, both
constitutive and inducible, is therefore a major factor in mycotoxin-induced acute or chronic toxicities. The
involvement of these
factors in the toxic responses to aflatoxins and ochratoxins will be briefly reviewed. In the case of the aflatoxins,
the importance
of secondary, conjugating metabolism has become increasingly evident. The specific control of expression of these
enzymes,
through sequences present in the 5' region of the gene, is evident (e.g. by the changes seen during development
and differences
between the sexes). The existence of these control mechanisms has made feasible the development of
chemoprotective strategies.
Although less detailed information is available concerning the metabolic activation and detoxification of the
ochratoxins, it
appears probable that future studies will reveal a role for the genetic control of expression of enzymes responsible
for the target
nephrotoxicity of these mycotoxins. 54. McKenna P, Clement J, Matthys P, Coyle PV, McCaughey C. Serological evidence of hantavirus disease in Northern Ireland.
J Med Virol 1994; 43:33-38. Since, to our knowledge, no clinically documented cases of haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) have
been reported
in Northern Ireland, a sero-epidemiological study was carried out to assess the degree of Hantavirus immunity in a
group of 627
Northern Irish patients presenting with symptoms suggestive of HFRS and 100 healthy controls. IFA screening for
IgG
Hantavirus specific antibodies was carried out with a panel of up to 9 different Hantaviral antigens. IgM screening
was
performed using a commercially available mu-capture ELISA based upon two recombinant Hantaviral
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