4 - Bio Weapons

Question 1

What is a biological warfare agent?

Answer 1

A microorganisms or a toxin derived from it which causes disease in humans, plants or animals.

Question 2

Def. Infectivity

Answer 2

reflects the relative ease with which microorganisms establish themselves in a host species.
* HIGH infectivity = less organism required

Question 3

Def. Virulence

Answer 3

reflects the relative severity of disease produced by that agent compared to other strains

Question 4

What variables impact the incubation period?

Answer 4

1. Initial dose
2. Virulence
3. Route of entry
4. Rate of replication
5. Host factors

Question 5

Def. Transmissibility

Answer 5

Person-to-person or indirect (e.g. vectors)

Question 6

What effects the stability of agent

Answer 6

Enviromental factors e.g:
* Temp
* Humidity
* Pollution
* Sunlight

Question 7

What are some types of biological agents?

Answer 7

1. Bacteria (e.g. Rickettsia)
2. Viruses
3. Fungi
4. Toxins

Question 8

What are some e.g. of bacterial agents?

Answer 8

1. Bacillus Anthracis
2. Vibrio Cholera
3. Yersinia Pestis

Question 9

What is anthrax

Answer 9

Zoonotic disease caused by Baccilus Anthracis
* The spores can survive for long period
* Mortality rate: 30%
* NOT transmissible
* Incubation: 1-6d (depends on no. spores)

Question 10

Anthrax symptoms

Answer 10

Gradual onset
* Fever, malaise, fatigue, cough, chest discomfort
* Maybe slight remission period
* Intial symptoms + severe breathing problems 2-3d later > LUNG FAILURE

Question 11

Protection against anthrax

Answer 11

• Vaccine is available and effective (requires yearly boosters)
• Antibiotics (PRE-treatment)

Question 12

Treatmentr for Anthrax

Answer 12

Antibiotics:
* Ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or
* Doxycycline (Doxylin)
* + supportive care in a hospital.

Question 13

What is cholera?

Answer 13

Diarrhoea disease caused by Vibrio Cholera
* Humans get it via consuming food/water with the bacteria
* LOW mortality
* It is transmissible

Question 14

Cholera symptoms

Answer 14

• Profuse watery diarrhoea,
• Extreme fluid loss
• W/o treatment > death from severe dehydration + shock.

Question 15

Cholera protection and treatment

Answer 15

• Oral Vaccine (50% protection for 6 mon.)
• WHO solution (MIXTURE of salts, glucose and antibiotics)

Question 16

What is the Plague?

Answer 16

Zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia Pestis bacteria
* Mortality: 100% (pneumonic) 50% (bubonic)
* VERY transmissible

Question 17

What are the types of plagues?

Answer 17

1. Bubonic (bites)
2. Pneumonic
3. Septicemic

Question 18

Incubation periods for plague types

Answer 18

Bubonic plague 2-10d whilst pneumonic 2-3

Question 19

Plague symptoms

Answer 19

1. 1st symptoms come fast, malaise, high fever, tender lymph node(s)
2. Progress: circulatory collapse and hemorrhage
3. Death > internal bleeding or cyanosis

Question 20

Protection and treatment for PLAGUE

Answer 20

• Vaccine (NO protection for pneumonic, last 6 mon.)
• Antibiotics (Doxycycline, Streptomycin, Chloramphenicol)

Question 21

What are some e.g. of viral agents?

Answer 21

1. Variola (smallpox)
2. VHF
3. Corona

Question 22

What is smallpox

Answer 22

Disease caused by Variola virus
* Mortality: 35%
* It is transmissible
* Incubation: 12d

Question 23

Smallpox symptoms

Answer 23

1. 1st symptoms: malaise, fever, rigors, head/backache
2. Skin eruption 7-17d later (RASH > CYSTS > PUSTULES)
3. Pustules form crust > fall off and scar
4. Fever MAY reappear ~7th day (after onset of rash)

Question 24

Protection and treatment for Smallpox

Answer 24

• Vaccine (contains Vaccinia virus, protection for 10y)
  Vaccine can be used as treatment if caught early

Question 25

What is VHF?

Answer 25

**Viral hemorrhagic fevers** (VHFs): group of illnesses that are caused by ***several*** distinct families of **viruses**. * **Circulatory** system ***damaged*** and body **regulation** ***impaired*** * ***VERY*** high mortality * It ***is*** transmissible * Incubation **2-3d**

Question 26

What are the general initial signs and symptoms of VHFs?

Answer 26

* **Fever**, **fatigue**, **dizziness**, *muscle* **aches**, *loss* of **strength**, and **exhaustion**. * **SEVERE**: ***bleeding*** *under* **skin**, in internal **organs** or body **orifices** * *Some* associated with **KIDNEY failure**

Question 27

Protection and treatment for VHFs

Answer 27

* **No** *vaccines* (except ***yellow*** and ***Argentine***) * **No** *treatment* (***Ribavirin***, antiviral drug, *effective* in **Lassa** fever)

Question 28

What is covid?

Answer 28

COVID-19 caused by **corona** virus * It ***is*** transmissible * **Incubation**: up to ***7d*** * **Lethal** *w/o* medical care

Question 29

Is covid a biological weapon?

Answer 29

It ***could*** have been developed as a BW but it ***cannot*** be used **now** (*vaccines* etc.)

Question 30

What are some treatments for Covid?

Answer 30

1. **Paxlovid** (Ritonavir and nirmatrelvir) 2. **Molnupiravir** (Legavrio)

Question 31

What are some toxins that may have application as BW?

Answer 31

1. **Botulinum** toxins 2. **Ricin** 3. **Tetrodo** toxin

Question 32

What is Ricin?

Answer 32

***Glycoprotein*** toxin from *seed* of **castor** plant * *Blocks* **protein** synthesis by binding **rRNA** > ***kills*** cell * **Mortality**: *depends* on dose * LD50: **inhalation** (***3-5 ug***/kg) **oral** (***20mg***/kg) * Incubation ***3-20h***

Question 33

Ricin symptoms

Answer 33

*Depend* on **ROUTE** of exposure * *Generally*: **nausea**, **vomiting**, abdominal **cramps** and severe **diarrhoea**, **breathing** *difficulties*. * **DEATH** on day ***3***

Question 34

Protection and treatment for ricin

Answer 34

**NONE**

Question 35

What is tetrodotoxin?

Answer 35

**Neurotoxin** found in *marine* animals * *Block* ***voltage-gated Na*** channels (from **inside** nerve cells) * ***Very high*** mortality (*still* depends on dose) * LD50: oral (334ug/kg) IV (8ug/kg) * Incubation: *within* **30mins**

Question 36

Symptoms of tetrodotoxin

Answer 36

**Vomiting**, *decreased* **mental** awareness, **respiratory** ***paralysis***

Question 37

Treatment for tetrodotoxin

Answer 37

* Antidotes is *activated* **charcoal** (needs to be done **early**, ***swallowed***) * ***Stomach*** **pumping** * **Monoclonal** antibodies * **Neostigmine**?