| Microorganism |
Bacillus anthracis |
Clostridium botulinum |
Clostridium difficile |
Clostridium perfringens |
Coxiella burnetii |
| Infective form
during
aerolization |
Spore |
Spore |
Spore |
Spore |
Small cell variant
(SCV)
and
“pseudo spores” |
| Infectious
aerolized dose |
5.0-10.0 spores
(ID10%) |
Not known |
Not known |
Not known |
1.0-3.0 SCV
(ID50%) |
| Activation of
the infective
form |
Spore germinant / co-germinant:
L-amino acids, proteins,
inosine (present in
nucleic acids, foods
and creams) |
Spore germinant /
co-germinant:
L-amino acids,
proteins, L-lactate
(present in foods,
creams), adenosine
(present in nucleic
acids) and CO2 |
Spore germinant / co-germinant:
CO2, biliar salts, L-aminoacids,
proteins |
Spore germinant
/ co-germinant:
L-aminoacids,
proteins, sugars
(glucose and
fructose),
potassium,
phosphate, CO2,
inosine |
Phagocytosis of
the SCV form by
macrophages and
its conversion to
LCV |
| Caused
disease |
Pneumonic and
Intestinal Anthrax |
Intestinal Botulism
(similar to Infant
Botulism) |
Bloody Diarrhoea |
Bloody Diarrhoea
and Gas Gangrene |
Q fever |
| Incubation
period |
1 to 7 days |
1 to 7 days |
1 to 7 days |
1 to 7 days |
1 to 3 weeks |
| Symptoms
after bioattack
and agent
activation |
Inhalation of spores:
Fever and chills, chest
discomfort, shortness
of breath, confusion or
dizziness, coughing up blood, nausea,
vomiting, or stomach
pains, headache,
sweats (often
drenching), extreme
tiredness, body aches
Ingestion of spores:
Fever and chills,
swelling of neck or
neck glands, sore
throat, painful
swallowing,
hoarseness, nausea
and vomiting,
especially bloody
vomiting, diarrhoea or
bloody diarrhoea,
headache, flushing
(red face) and red
eyes, stomach pain,
fainting, swelling of
abdomen (stomach) |
Inhalation of
spores: not known
Ingestion of spores:
Difficulty swallowing or
speaking, dry
mouth, facial
weakness on both
sides of the face,
blurred or double
vision, drooping
eyelids, trouble
breathing, nausea,
vomiting and
abdominal cramps,
paralysis and life
compromise if
untreated |
Inhalation of spores: not
known
Ingestion of spores:
Watery diarrhoea, up to 15 times each day,
severe abdominal pain,
loss of appetite and loss
weight, fever, patches of
raw tissue that can bleed
or produce pus
(pseudomembranous
colitis), kidney failure
and death if untreated |
Inhalation of
spores: not known
Ingestion of
spores: a- Mild diarrhoea to
a life-threatening
sequence of
severe abdominal
pain, vomiting,
bloody stool,
ulceration of the
small intestine
with leakage
(perforation) into
the peritoneal
cavity and possible
death
b- Gas gangrene
(intestinal
mionecrosis):
breakdown of
muscles, severe
pain, oedema,
tenderness and
pallor,
discoloration and
hemorrhagic
bullae and
production of gas
at the site of
Wound. Life
compromise |
Inhalation
/ingestion of SCV:
High fever, severe
headache, general
malaise, myalgia, chills and/or
sweats, cough,
nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea,
abdominal pain,
chest pain. It can
developed in
pneumonia,
granulomatous
hepatitis,
myocarditis and
central nervous
system
compromise |
| Dissemination |
- Aerosol droplets
- Contact with
infected animals and infected people
- Contact with
contaminated objects
or surfaces
- Diarrhoea if the attack
is combined with C.
difficile and/or C.
perfringens |
- Aerosol droplets
- Contact with
Contaminate objects or surfaces
- Diarrhoea if the
attack is combined
with C. difficile
and/or C.
perfringens |
- Aerosol droplets
- Transmission from
person to person
- Contact with
contaminated surfaces
- Diarrhoea |
-Aerosol droplets
-Transmission
from person to person
- Contact with
contaminated
surfaces
- Diarrhoea |
- Aerosol droplets
-Transmission
from person to person
- Contact with
contaminated
surfaces
- Diarrhoea if the
attack is combined
with C. difficile
and/or C.
perfringens |
| Contagious
from person to
person in case
of aerosol
dissemination |
Yes |
Not known but
plausible if the
attack is combined
with C. perfringens
and/or C. difficile |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Treatment |
Antibiotics, sporocides |
Antitoxins,
antibiotics and
sporocides.
Breathing machines
(ventilators) in
severe cases |
Antibiotics, sporocides
and / or surgery |
Antibiotics, sporocides
and / or surgery |
Antibiotics,
and / or surgery |
| Vaccine
availability |
Yes, but its efficacy
against pulmonary
anthrax is
controversial |
No |
No |
No |
Yes, but its
efficacy against a
high inhaled dose
of SCV is not
known |
