S K Haldar CLI Mumbai Notes

1. Biological Hazards
Anthrax (Wool Sorter’s disease)
Caused by Bacillus Anthraces & spread through spores which may be found in the infected
animals & animal products like wool, hair, meat, skin, bones etc. Soil can become
contaminated by the spores which may survive fir many years in the soil. The disease also
known as Woo Sorter’s Disease.
Occupations involved:-1) Veterinarians 2) Farmers 3) Slaughter men 4) Agricultural
Workers 5) Workers of Carpet Factory, Tanneries, Fertilizer Plant
Types of Anthrax 1) Cutaneous 2) Pulmonary 3) Intestinal
1) Cutaneous Anthrax:- It accounts for 95% of cases. Occurring when infectious agent
enters through a cut or abrasion. After incubation period of 2-7 days a small Papule
develops. This further becomes Vasicular & over 24-48 hours enlarges to form an
ulcer, with a characteristically black necrosis at the centre, which is usually surrounded
by considerable edema & accompanied by fever & local lymphadinipathy.
2) Pulmonary Anthrax:- It is caused by inhalation of the organisms. Non specific
symptoms of Upper Respiratory Tract Infection are followed by a rapid deterioration in
respiratory functions, severe breathlessness & shock. If untreated the condition of
Pulmonary Anthrax is rapidly fetal.
3) Intestinal:- Acquired after eating infected meat
Diagnosis:- By Culture of swabs from lesion, blood & Sputum
Treatment:- 1) Parentral Penicillin 2) Tetracycline 3) Cyclo Floxacin
Brucellosis
Types:- 1) BrucellaAbortus:- Cattle population
2) BrucellaMelitensis:- Sheeps&Goats
3) BrucellaSuis:- Pigs
4) BrucellaMoris:- SealsorotherMarine Mammals
Infectionmaybe acquired throughcontactof the organismwithconjunctivaorabradedskin,byaerosol
inhalationorbyingestion.
Occupations associated:- 1) VeterinarySurgeon 2) UnpasteurizedMilkorMilkProducts
3) laboratoryWorkers
Incubation Period:- Rangingfrom1 weekto7 months.
Clinical Features:- Clinical featuresare veriable includingFever,Rigors,GeneralizedBodyAche,
Anorexia. Infectionmayleadtochronicityoftenassociatedwith intensefatigue.
The symptoms of chronicBrucellosismaylastforyearswithnon specificsymptomslike 1) Malaise
2) Tirednesswithlittle ornofever 3) Depression
Physical Signs:- 1) Spleenomegale 2) Hepatomegale 3) Lymphadenopathy 4) TransientSkinRash
5) Ottitis 6) Meningitis 7) Cranial Nerve Palsy 8) Endocarditis 9) Hepatic& SpleenicAbsess
Diagnosis:- By serology&Culture of Blood,Bone Marrow, Pusor InfectedTissues.
Treatment:- 1) Tetracycline orDoxycyclin
2) StreptomycinorRefampicin
3) Cotrimexazolmayalsobe used