zoonotic pathogens as Bioterrorism agents.pptx

this presentation explains abpout the potential use of bacteriological agents as bioterrorism agents

1. Zoonotic pathogens as Bioterrorism agents

2. Introduction Bioterrorism means a  deliberate use of bioweapons  viz., viruses, bacteria, other microbe s (highly contagious microorganisms which cause outbreaks and subsequent mass destruction of human population) and  toxins to attack humans and animals or plants. It is an emerging potential threat to human population. Eg . A 100 kg of viable anthrax spores can kill 1 to 3 million peoples. So, it is as deadly as nuclear weapons with cheaper investment. Francisella tularensis   is a highly infectious aerosolizable intracellular pathogen that is capable of causing a debilitating or fatal disease with doses as low as 25 colony-forming units. Bioweapons can be disseminated by aerosol over the larger geographical areas through helicopter or airplane, bomb or missile system, deliberately infected vectors or insects, through water supplies and through parcel by postal.

3. History 600 BC- Crude use of filth& cadavers etc to weaken the enemy 1346- Siege of Caffa - Tartar force- epidemic plague 1797- Napolean flood the plains around Mantua, Italy to enhance the spread of Malaria WWI- German and french agents used Glanders and Anthrax WWII- Japan- Anthrax, Plague, Cholera, Shigella

4. Japanese Biological Arms: Investigated more than 30 bacterial species but settled on B. anthracis and Yersinia pestis for its primary BW payloads; Japanese claimed that Pingfan in one production cycle could produce “300 kg Y. pestis ”; Pingfan could produce 40 million fleas infected with Y. pestis per month; 3,000 fleas weighs 1 gr ; 4,000 biological Uji porcelain bombs produced at Pingfan by 1945; most bombs carried fleas. BW killed >3,000 human subjects & ~ 250,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians (Chinese governm .)

5. Soviet 2nd Generation Program’s Pathogens

6. List of bioweapons: based on etiology Bacterial bioweapons:  Staphylococcal enterotoxin-B, Anthrax spores, Botulinum toxin, Zoonotic  Brucella spp. ,  Yersinia   pestis (Bubonic plague),  Vibrio cholera  (Cholera),  Burkholderia mallei  ( P. mallei ) ( Glanders ), Zoonotic  Mycobacterium spp.  (Tuberculosis), Shigella , Burkholderia pseudomallei   ( P. pseudomallei ) ( Melioidosis ),  Fusarium oxysporum  and  Francisella tularensis  ( Tularaemia ).

7. Viral bioweapons:  Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Smallpox virus,  Influenza virus and Hanta virus. Rickettsial bioweapons:   Coxiella burnetii  (Q fever),  Rickettsia rickettsii  (Rocky Mountain spotted fever). Fungal bioweapons:   Trichothecene mycotoxin (T-2 mycotoxin ) Coccidiodes immitis  ( Coccidioidomycosis ).  

8. Categorization of bioweapons: Based on potential to pose threat to public health and safety , the type of bioweapons are categorized in to A, B and C by Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), USA. Category A:   If the biological agents pose a high risk to national security and have potential major public health impact,  easily disseminated and high mortality in the target population and require special action for public health preparedness Eg . Tularemia ( Francisella tularensis  ) Anthrax ( Bacillus anthracis  spores) Smallpox Botulinum toxin ( Clostridium botulnum ) Bubonic plague ( Yersinia pestis   ) Viral haemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus and Marburg virus)

9. Category B:   Moderately easy to disseminate and have low mortality rates in the target population Brucellosis ( Brucella  spp.)  Epsilon toxin  (Clostridium perfringens ) Salmonellosis E.coli  O157:H7 Shigellosis ( Shigella dysenteriae ) Staphylococcus aureus Glanders ( Burkholderia mallei ) Melioidoisis ( Burkholderia pseudomallei ) Psittacosis  ( Chlamydiophia psittaci ) Q fever ( Coxiella burnetii ) Ricin toxin ( Ricinus communis ) - castor beans Abrin toxin ( Abrus precatorius ) - Rosary peas Staphylococcal enterotoxin B

10. Typhus ( Rickettsia prowazekii ) Cholera ( Vibrio cholera ) Cryptosporidiosis ( Cryptosporidium parvum )  Category C:   Biological agents might be genetically engineered  for mass dissemination and high mortality in the target population. Newly emerging pathogens: Nipah virus Hantavius H1N1