Farm and Home Biosecurity
Livestock/Row Crop Producer
A Guide for Practicing Veterinarians: Recognizing Suspected
Biological Agents Used in Bio-terrorism
Indications
of Possible Bio-warfare Attack • Possible
Biological Warfare Agents • Disease
Threat/Initial Symptoms/Characteristics/Action • Action
Flow Chart for Suspected Biological Terrorist Attacks •
Additional
Resources
Recent events have prompted a heightened awareness to potential biological
threats to both human and animal populations. Veterinarians need to recognize
that many biological agents useful to terrorists are zoonotic diseases. It is
important to be mindful of strange symptoms or unusual animal diseases and
report them to appropriate authorities as quickly as possible. Delays in the
recognition and subsequent reporting of possible bio-terrorism can mean the
difference in life and death for literally thousands of patients, both human and
animal. We should all maintain a higher state of awareness to these
possibilities.
As important as our vigilance is, we must be equally mindful not to overreact
to circumstances that are not immediately understood. By providing the following
guide, which includes agents that could be used for biological warfare, the
initial disease symptoms and the characteristics for which to look, we hope to
help you diminish unwarranted fears as well as recognize a possible threat.
Indications of
Possible Bio-warfare Attack
- A disease entity that is unusual or that does not occur naturally in a
given geographic area, or combinations of unusual disease entities in the same
patient populations
- Multiple disease entities in the same patients, indicating that mixed
agents have been used in the attack
- Large numbers of both military and civilian casualties when such
populations inhabit the same area
- Data suggesting a massive point-source outbreak
- Apparent aerosol route of infection
- High morbidity and mortality relative to the number of personnel at risk
- Illness limited to fairly localized or circumscribed geographical areas
- Low attack rates in personnel who work in areas with filtered air
supplies or closed ventilation systems
- Sentinel dead animals of multiple species
- Absence of a competent natural vector in the area of outbreak for a
biological agent that is vector-borne in nature
Source: Weiner S L, Barrett J. Biological warfare defense.
In: Trauma Management for Civilian and Military Physicians.
Philadelphia, PA: W B Saunders; 1986: 508-509
Possible Biological Warfare
Agents
A = All Species E = Horses H = Humans S = Small animals C =
Cattle O = Sheep, goats, other animals
Bacteria
Anthrax (A)
Plaque (A)
Tularemia (A)
Brucellosis (H,C,S,O)
Q fever (A)
Viruses
Smallpox (H)
Equine encephalitis viruses (H,E)
Hemorrhagic fevers (H)
Foot and Mouth Disease (C,O)
Toxins
Staph enterotoxin B (A)
Ricin (A)
Botulinum toxins (A)
Trichothecene mycotoxins (A)
Disease
Threat/Initial Symptoms/Characteristics/Action
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
3 forms:
- Pulmonary: flu-like initial cold symptoms respiratory
difficulty shock
- Cutaneous: raised bump initially ulceration characteristic
necrotic center develops
- Intestinal: vomiting/diarrhea abdominal pain
Characteristics/Action
- Incubation 1-7 days
- Up to 60 days pulmonary exposure
- In cattle: Acute death/bleeding from body orifices may be first symptoms
observed
- Vaccines available
- Not contagious/highly infectious
- Decontaminate with 5% hypochlorite
- Fluoroquinolones or doxycycline effective in most instances
Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Fever, Headache, Weakness
- Coughing w/blood progressing to pneumonia over 2-4 days,
- Septic shock/death
Characteristics/Action
- Transmission through respiratory droplets via direct contact
- Early antibiotic treatment essential
- Tetracycline listed in human references along with several others which
are extra-label in animals
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
2 forms:
- Ulceroglandular - skin lesions
- Typhoidal
coughing/chills/myalgia
myriad of possible symptoms
pneumonia from aerosol presentation most likely
Characteristics/Action
- Mucous membrane lesions may or may not occur
- Aminoglycosides are reasonable alternative to the drug of choice -
streptomycin
Brucellosis (various Brucella species)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Fever, malaise
- Body aches, sweats in people
Characteristics/Action
- Incubation days to weeks
- Tetracycline and doxycycline are effective first choices for treatment
Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Symptoms can be acute or chronic Fever, chills, headache, weakness,
myalgia
Characteristics/Action
- Extremely infectious
- Aerosol transmission
- Infected parturient animals shed high numbers of organisms
- Tetracyclines for treatment
Smallpox ( variola virus) (humans only)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- High fever, fatigue
- Head and back aches
- Characteristic rash in 2-3 days
Characteristics/Action
- Incubation period 7-17 days
- Transmission by saliva droplets face-to-face with infected patient
- Vaccination within 4 days of exposure may be beneficial
Equine Encephalomyelitis viruses (particularly EEE, VEE)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- EEE: Encephalitis, case fatality rate 50-70%
- VEE: Headache, fever, malaise with prolonged convalescence
Characteristics/Action
- Natural vector mosquitoes
- Highly infectious in low doses as aerosols
- Supportive care
Viral Hemorrhagic fevers
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Fever, dizziness, muscle aches, weakness
- Bleeding problems
Characteristics/Action
- Rodent/arthropod reservoirs
- Some spread patient-to-patient via close contact
- Supportive therapy only
Foot and Mouth Disease (animals only)
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Slobbering, blisters on mucosal surfaces, lameness
Characteristics/Action
- Highly contagious
- Not a human threat
- Fomite transmission very easily
- No treatment
Staph enterotoxin B
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Fever, headache
- Respiratory distress
- Nausea/vomiting
Characteristics/Action
- Food poisoning
- Incapacitating agent
- Supportive care reduces side effects
Ricin toxin
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Airway necrosis (inhaled)
- Massive pulmonary edema
- Lethal at high aerosol doses
Characteristics/Action
- Oral = low toxicity
- Respiratory = high toxicity
- Symptomatic care
Botulinum toxin
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Symmetric descending paralysis
- Double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, muscle weakness
Characteristics/Action
- Food/water borne
- Antitoxins can prevent progression and shorten the course if
administered early
- Fatigue and shortness of breath can last for years
Tricothecene mycotoxins
Disease Threat/Initial Symptoms
- Vomiting/diarrhea/anemia
- Pain/weakness
- Dizziness/ataxia
- Skin lesions/blisters
Characteristics/Action
- So-called “yellow rain” agent
- Defense = exposure prevention
- Soap/water wash effective up to 6 hrs post exposure
Action
Flow Chart for Suspected Biological Terrorist Attacks
High suspicion of terrorist activity:
- Dial 911 for local police department notification
- Public Health Department Local #___________________________ State
#____________________________
- Local Field Office of the FBI (jurisdiction over terrorist activity
investigations)
- CDC Emergency Response Office: 1-800-232-4636
- US Public Health Service: 1-800-872-6367
- Domestic Preparedness Information Line: 1-800-368-6498
- National Response Center: 1-800-424-8802
Additional Resources
Textbook of Military Medicine. Part 1: Chemical and Biological Warfare. From
The Office of The Surgeon General. United States Army. 1997.
For additional information or questions, contact our Professional Services
Department at 1-800-533-8536.
Animal Health ©2001 Fort Dodge Animal Health
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