Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)

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

• 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)

Fever, Headache, Weakness, Coughing w/blood progressing to pneumonia over 2-4 days, Septic shock/death

• 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)

2 forms:

Ulceroglandular

skin lesions

Typhoidal

coughing/chills/myalgia

myriad of possible symptoms

pneumonia from aerosol presentation most likely

• Mucous membrane lesions may or may not occur
• Aminoglycosides are reasonable alternative to the drug of choice - streptomycin

Brucellosis (various Brucella species)

Fever, malaise

Body aches, sweats in people

• Incubation days to weeks

• Tetracycline and doxycycline are effective first choices for treatment

Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Symptoms can be acute or chronic Fever, chills, headache, weakness, myalgia

• Extremely infectious

• Aerosol transmission

• Infected parturient animals shed high numbers of organisms

• Tetracyclines for treatment

Smallpox (variola virus) (humans only)

High fever, fatigue

Head and back aches

Characteristic rash in 2-3 days

• 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)

EEE:  Encephalitis, case fatality rate 50-70%

VEE:  Headache, fever, malaise with prolonged convalescence

• Natural vector mosquitoes

• Highly infectious in low doses as aerosols

• Supportive care

Viral Hemorrhagic fevers

Fever, dizziness, muscle aches, weakness, Bleeding problems

• Rodent/arthropod reservoirs

• Some spread patient-to-patient via close contact

• Supportive therapy only

Foot and Mouth Disease (animals only)

Slobbering, blisters on mucosal surfaces, lameness

• Highly contagious

• Not a human threat

• Fomite transmission very easily

• No treatment

Staph enterotoxin B

Fever, headache

Respiratory distress

Nausea/vomiting

• Food poisoning

• Incapacitating agent

• Supportive care reduces side effects

Ricin toxin

Airway necrosis (inhaled)

Massive pulmonary edema

Lethal at high aerosol doses

• Oral = low toxicity

• Respiratory = high toxicity

• Symptomatic care

Botulinum toxin

Summetric descending paralysis

Double vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, muscle weakness

• Food/water borne

• Antitoxins can prevent progression and shorten the course if administered early

• Fatigue and shortness of breath can last for years

Tricothecene my cotoxins

Vomiting/diarrhea/anemia

Pain/weakness

Dizziness/ataxia

Skin lesions/blisters

• So-called "yellow rain" agent

• Defense = exposure prevention

• Soap-water wash effective up to 6 hrs post exposure