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Harefuah2002; 141 Spec No; 88-119;

[Glanders–a potential disease for biological warfare in humans and animals].

Abstract: Infection with Burkholderia mallei (formerly Pseudomonas mallei) can cause a subcutaneous infection known as "farcy" or can disseminate to condition known as Glanders. It is primarily a disease affecting horses, donkeys and mules. In humans, Glanders can produce four types of disease: localized form, pulmonary form, septicemia, and chronic form. Necrosis of the tracheobronchial tree and pustular skin lesions characterize acute infection with B. mallei. Other symptoms include febrile pneumonia, if the organism was inhaled, or signs of sepsis and multiple abscesses, if the skin was the port of entry. Glanders is endemic in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Glanders has low contiguous potential, but because of the efficacy of aerosolized dissemination and the lethal nature of the disease, B. mallei was considered a candidate for biological warfare. During World War I, Glanders was believed to have been spread to infect large numbers of Russian horses and mules on the Eastern front. The Japanese infected horses, civilians and prisoners of war during World War II. The USA and the Soviet Union have shown interest in B. mallei in their biological warfare program. The treatment is empiric and includes mono or poly-therapy with Ceftazidime, Sulfadiazine, Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazol, Gentamicin, Imipenem etc. Aggressive control measures essentially eliminated Glanders from the west. However, with the resurgent concern about biological warfare, B. mallei is now being studied in a few laboratories worldwide. This review provides an overview of the disease and presents the only case reported in the western world since 1949.
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Publication Date: 2002-08-13 PubMed ID: 12170562
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article discusses Glanders, a disease caused by the Burkholderia mallei bacteria that primarily affects donkeys, horses, and mules, and can also infect humans in four different forms. The study highlights the disease’s potential for use in biological warfare due to its effective aerosolized spread and lethality, despite its low contagious potential, and presents the only reported case in the western world since 1949.

Glanders Disease and its Forms

  • The article explains that the bacteria Burkholderia mallei can cause a disease known as Glanders. This infection can either manifest as an under-the-skin condition called “farcy” or can spread around the body.
  • In humans, the disease can take on four forms: localized, pulmonary, septicemia, and a chronic form.
  • Acute infections are characterized by necrosis of the tracheobronchial tree and pustules on the skin. Other symptoms can include pneumonia if inhaled, or septic and abscess signs if it enters through the skin.

Geographical Spread and Potential for Biological Warfare

  • Though not highly contagious, Glanders is endemic in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America.
  • Due to the lethal nature of the disease and the feasibility of disseminating it through aerosols, B. mallei has been considered a viable candidate for biological warfare.
  • Historically, Glanders has been purportedly used in warfare, notably during World War I and II, with infection spread among horses, civilians, and prisoners of war.
  • Earlier, both USA and USSR showed interest in incorporating B. mallei into their biological warfare programs.

Treatment and Control Measures

  • The treatment of Glanders is largely empirical, involving mono or polypharmacy including drugs like Ceftazidime, Sulfadiazine, Trimethoprim + Sulfamethoxazol, Gentamicin, and Imipenem.
  • Aggressive control measures helped eliminate Glanders from western nations. Yet, rising apprehensions over biological warfare have led to renewed studies of B. mallei in select laboratories worldwide.
  • The paper concludes with a review of Glanders as a disease and discusses a single case reported in the Western world since 1949.

Cite This Article

APA
Lehavi O, Aizenstien O, Katz LH, Hourvitz A. (2002). [Glanders–a potential disease for biological warfare in humans and animals]. Harefuah, 141 Spec No, 88-119.

Publication

Harefuah
ISSN: 0017-7768
NlmUniqueID: 0034351
Country: Israel
Language: heb
Volume: 141 Spec No
Pages: 88-119

Researcher Affiliations

Lehavi, Ofer
  • Department of Radiology, Tel Aviv Medical Center.
Aizenstien, Orna
    Katz, Lior H
      Hourvitz, Ariel

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Anti-Bacterial Agents
        • Biological Warfare / prevention & control
        • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
        • Glanders / epidemiology
        • Glanders / prevention & control
        • Glanders / transmission
        • Humans

        References

        This article includes 24 references

        Citations

        This article has been cited 15 times.
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