Bioterrorism

Question 1

What are good characteristics of bioweapons?

Answer 1

• Low cost
• Ability to aerosolize
• Easy to handle
• Easy to access
• Difficult to detect until disease has advanced
• Open-ended scale of predictable casualties
• Clandestine stockpiles & delivery systems

Question 2

What is a major example of foodborne illness bioterrorism seen in 1984?

Used to influence local election

Answer 2

• Salmonella enterica and Typhimurium where used to contaminate salad bar items & coffee creamer at 12 nearby restaurants
• Used to influence a local election

Question 3

Why is inhalation anthrax so dangerous?

Answer 3

80-90% fatal

Lethal dose = ~8,000 to 10,000 spores; 1 mL = 1,000,000,000 spores

Question 4

What are the characteristics of bacillus anthracis?

Answer 4

• GP rod
• Spore forming (long life)
• “Box car” appearance w/ chains
• Polypeptide capsule (poly-D-glutamic acid)

Question 5

What is true regarding anthrax spores affecting the lungs?

What about dormancy?

Answer 5

• Spores 1-5 microns
• Penetrate alveoli
• Germinate in 1-60 days

Some spores are killed but spores can overwhelm the immune system

Question 6

What are the toxins associated w/ anthrax?

Answer 6

• EF: inhibits neutrophils
• LF: disrupts macrophage function
• PA

EF = edema; LF = lethal; PA = protective

Question 7

What controls anthrax toxin expression?

Answer 7

Plasmid control (pXO1 & pXO2)

Question 8

What is a possible bioterrorism agent used to cause what is pictured in the radiograph attached?

Answer 8

Pulmonary anthrax (mediastinal widening)

Question 9

You are treating a politician who recently noticed the lesion pictured in the image. This lesion appeared after they authored a controversial bill. What is a possible Dx?

Answer 9

Cutaneous anthrax

Question 10

Whom do Americans trust as a source of reliable information during a local outbreak of disease caused by bioterrorism?

Answer 10

Own doctor (77%)

Question 11

{{BLANK}} is the largest virus infecting animals

Answer 11

Smallpox virus

Question 12

Smallpox virus displays a {{BLANK}} dsDNA genome

Answer 12

linear

Question 13

What type of polymerase is displayed by smallpox?

Answer 13

DNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Question 14

Smallpox replicates in the {{BLANK}}

Answer 14

Cytoplasm

Question 15

How would you describe smallpox rash?

Answer 15

Small, round, firm lesions all in the same stage of development

Question 16

For vaccinia to be given to protect against smallpox you should give the vaccine within {{BLANK}} days of exposure

Answer 16

3 days after exposure

Question 17

A patient comes to your clinic complaining of bumps along their forehead. You examine them (photo attached). After laboratory workup, you deduce the cause is DNA poxvirus. How is this virus transmitted?

Answer 17

Direct skin-to-skin contact