MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

File: 123096_sep96_decls28_0035.txt
Page: 0035
Total Pages: 40

Subject: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL                     

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003203

Folder Title: MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL                                                     

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         47





                                          UNCLASSIFIED








              The enterotaxin can be detected in fecal samples from human
            food-poisoning cases, and bacteria are readily cultured from
            clinical samples.


                  y

              No specific treatment is available for C. perfringens
            intoxication. Humans with enteritis necroticans have been
            treated with antitoxin with some success.

              The organism itself is sensitive to penicillin, and,
            consequently, this is the current drug of choice. Recent data
            indicate that clindamycin or rifampin may suppress toxin
            production, and provide superior results in animal models.


            PROPHYLAXIS. There is no available prophylaxis for C.
                        intoxication. Toxoids are being used to prevent
            enteritis necroticans in humans, and veterinary toxoids are in
            wide use.




                                         PLAGUE



            CLINICAL SYNDROME.

              Plague is a zoonotic disease caused by Yersinia pestis, a
            gram negative, non-spore forming, bacillus. Under natural
            conditions, humans become infested through skin inoculation
            (flea bite or direct animal contact), and only rarely via
            aerosol. A biological warfare attack with plague bacilli could
            be delivered via contaminated vectors (fleas) or, more likely,
            via aerosol. The clinical picture seen would depend upon the
            route of delivery.


              Clinical Features. The incubation period ranges from 2 to
            10 days. Three primary syndromes are described: bubonic,
            primary septicemic, and pneumonic. In bubonic plague, onset is
            acute and often fulrninant, with high fever, systemic signs and
            symptoms, and exquisitely tender lymph node or nodes. The
            hallmark of bubonic plague, the bubo, represents a


                           13



                                          UNCLASSIFIED

Document 40 f:/Week-36/BX003203/MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL/medical defense against biological material:12179609282229
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003203
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
Folder Seq # = 47
Subject = MEDICAL DEFENSE AGAINST BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL
Document Seq # = 1
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 17-DEC-1996