infectious agents that might be used as biological weapon

1. infectious agents that might be
used as biological weapon

2. Biological (bacteriological) weapons are pathogenic microbes and toxins intended to infect
people, domestic and service animals, agricultural plants, food and fodder stocks, pastures,
water, air, etc.
Bacteriological weapons include pathogenic bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, their toxins, and
fungi.

3. Smallpox (Variola major)
Anthrax (Bacillus antracis)
Plague (Iersinia pestis)
Botulism (Cl. Botulinum)
Tularemia (Francisella tulajrensis)
Haemorrhagic fever (Filoviruses et al.)
• Q fever (Coxiella berneti)
• Brucellosis (Bruceiia sp.)
• Sap (Burkholaderia mallei)
• melioidosis (Burkholaderia pseudomallei)
• Viral encephalitis (VEE, WEE, EEE et al.)
• Typhus (Rickettsia prowazeki)
• Toxic Syndromes (Toxins: ricin, Staph B et al.)
• Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)
Intestinal bacteria (Salmoneiia, Shigella dyzenteriae et al.);
Agents aqueous medium (Vibrio cholerae et al.);
New agents (bacteria resistant to antibiotics, HIV, etc.).

4. These agents can be transmitted in various ways, including:
Airborne Transmission: Biological agents can be spread through the air, either by releasing aerosolized
particles or by infecting individuals who then become carriers and spread the disease to others through
coughing or sneezing. Examples anthrax and smallpox.
Waterborne Transmission: Some biological agents can be spread through contaminated water, such as
cholera and typhoid fever. Ingesting contaminated water can cause the disease to spread rapidly.
Direct Contact Transmission: Biological agents can be spread through direct contact with infected
individuals or contaminated objects, such as clothing, bedding, or medical equipment. Examples Ebola
and haemorrhagic fever .
Foodborne Transmission: contaminated food, such as botulinum toxin in improperly canned foods or
Salmonella in contaminated meat products.
Vector-borne Transmission : by arthropod vectors, such as fleas, mosquitoes, or ticks. For example, the
bacteria that cause plague can be transmitted by flea bites.

5. History of use
Ancient times: The use of poisoned arrows and other biological agents can be traced back to ancient civilizations, such
as Persia and Greece.
Middle Ages: During the siege of Kaffa (now Feodosiya, Ukraine) in 1346, Mongol forces reportedly hurled the corpses
of plague victims over the walls of the city to infect the defenders.
18th century: During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), British forces in North America reportedly gave blankets
infected with smallpox to Native Americans as a form of biological warfare.
World War I: Germany reportedly made attempts to use anthrax and glanders as biological weapons.
World War II: Japan established a biological warfare research program, which conducted experiments on prisoners of
war and civilians. The program was responsible for the deaths of thousands of people.
Cold War era: The United States and the Soviet Union both developed biological weapons programs, but they were
never used in a large-scale conflict.
1980s-1990s: Iraq admitted to having a biological weapons program, and evidence suggested that it had used biological
weapons against Iran and the Kurdish minority in Iraq.
2001: Letters containing anthrax spores were sent through the mail in the United States, killing five people and injuring
17 others.

6. Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
Infection – By cutaneous and inhalational route
Signs/Symptoms-

7. Diagnosis :
Skin biopsy for cutaneous
Blood culture
ELISA, PCR
Treatment :
Ciprofloxacin, Penicillin, Doxycycline.
Treated for 60 days.
Prevention:
Vaccination – 6 doses over 18
months, booster annually.
Chemoprophylaxis – Cipro/ Doxy 4
weeks before exposure.
Infectious form: Spores
Hardy, resistant to environmental
conditions.
Relatively easy to weaponize.

8. Its modern use as a weapon dates back to World War I, when several countries
conducted research on anthrax as a potential weapon. During World War II, the
Japanese military used anthrax against Chinese civilians and military personnel. After
the war, the United States and the Soviet Union developed biological weapons
programs that included anthrax. In 1979, an accidental release of anthrax from a Soviet
biological weapons facility resulted in the deaths of at least 64 people.
anthrax was used in a terrorist attack in the United States in 2001, killing five people
and infecting several others

9. Plague (Yersinia pestis)
Diagnosis:
Clinical features
Microscopic examination of bubo fluid/
sputum
Cultures
PCR/ DFA
Treatment:
Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Doxycycline
Prevention:
Formalin fixed vaccine
Flea control measures
Spread:
Through bite of infected fleas.
Through droplet spread from pneumonic
plague patients.
Through direct contact with non intact skin.
Weapon potential:
Labile in environment ( 1 hour)
Highly contagious, person to person spread.
Can be weaponised as aerosols. (10 km)

11. Smallpox (Variola)

12. The use of smallpox as a biological weapon dates back to the 18th century when
British forces in North America distributed smallpox-infected blankets to Native
American populations during the French and Indian War. During the 20th century,
several countries developed biological weapons programs that included smallpox as a
potential weapon. The Soviet Union was known to have stockpiled smallpox and
conducted research on how to make the virus more virulent. However, after the
eradication of smallpox in 1980, the World Health Organization began efforts to
destroy all remaining stocks of the virus, and in 1996, it became the first virus to be
officially banned by international treaty.

13. Signs/ Symptoms:
1-14 days
Ulceroglandular (75%) & Typhoidal (25%)
Fever, chills, malaise, myalgia, headache
Chest discomfort, dyspnea,,
Skin rash, Pharyngitis, conjunctivitis
Hilar ade
Diagnosis:
Gram stain, culture (blood, ulcer discharge,
sputum)
Immunohistochemistry, PCR
Treatment:
Streptomycin, Gentamycin, Doxycycline,
Ciprofloxacin
Prevention:
Chemoprophylaxis - Doxycycline, 100 mg
PO bid x 14 d
Ciprofloxacin, 500 mg PO bid x 14 days
Weaponisation:
Aerosol sprays. nopathy on chest x-ray
It was used as a biological warfare agent
since World War II and During the Cold
War
Tularemia (F. tularensis)

14. Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses
 Signs/ Symptoms:
 Fever, myalgia, prostration,
and Disseminated
intravascular coagulation
with thrombocytopenia and
capillary hemorrhage
 Maculopapular or erythematous rashes
 Leukopenia, temperature-pulse
dissociation, renal failure, and
seizures
 Diagnosis should be suspected in anyone
with temperature >38.3°C for <3 weeks
who also exhibits at least two of the
following: hemorrhagic or purpuric rash,
epistaxis, hematemesis, hemoptysis, or
hematochezia in the absence of any other
identifiable cause.
 Diagnosis:
 RT-PCR
 Antigen isolation
 Treatment:
 Supportive therapy
 Ribavirin, IF , Hyperimmune Ig
 Prevention:
 No known chemoprophylaxis
 No vaccines
 Strict isolation and PPE ( N95 mask or
PAPR)

15. Botulinum toxin (Cl. Botulinum)
Signs/ Symptoms:
12 – 72 hours
Dry mouth, blurred vision, ptosis,
weakness, dysarthria, dysphagia, dizziness,
respiratory failure, progressive paralysis,
dilated pupils
Diagnosis:
Mouse bioassay
Toxin immunoassayTreatment:
Supportive ( Intubation, Mechanical
ventilation, TPN)
Equine antitoxin (only against A &B)
Prevention:
Botulinum toxoid is available for high risk
workers
Lab workers, military personnel

16. Examples of use:
Botulinum toxin was the primary focus of the pre-1991 Iraqi bioweapons program.
(19000 l conc. toxin.)
Aum Shrinrikyo cult unsucceassfully attempted on a least three occasions to disperse
botulism toxin into the civilian population of Tokyo.
1990 - Outfitted a car to disperse botulinum toxin through an exhaust system and
drove the car around Parliament.
1993 - Attempted to disrupt the wedding of Prince Naruhito by spreading botulinum
in Tokyo via car.
1995 - Planted 3 briefcases designed to release botulinum in a Tokyo subway.