Glanders in a Military Research Microbiologist

Pathological findings and diagnostic implications of a rhesus macaque (Macacca mulatta) model of aerosol exposure to Burkholderia mallei (glanders)

“…Enlarged lymph nodes could also be a source of diagnostic material in human cases if human pathology is consistent with that noted in the study reported here; lymphadenopathy is commonly noted in the case reports available in the literature (Carr & Waag, 2007;Srinivasan et al, 2001). The observations in the rhesus macaque as reported here are more consistent with human case reports as opposed to models such as the hamster, in which pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis has been observed early in the course of infection (Fritz et al, 1999).…”

“…Therefore, taken together, the clinical signs and haematology parameters, if consistent in human cases with the data presented here, probably would result in bacterial culture attempts, to include blood culture in many settings. Based on the limited available case reports, it is expected that human cases would present similarly to the animals studied here (Carr & Waag, 2007;Srinivasan et al, 2001). However, culture of non-invasive samples (especially blood) was generally not useful for diagnosis early in the course of infection.…”

Experimental aerogenic Burkholderia mallei (glanders) infection in the BALB/c mouse

“…In humans, it is primarily an occupational disease that affects individuals who have close contact with infected animals, such as veterinarians, grooms and farmers (Sanford, 1995). Infection results primarily from contamination of wounds, abrasions or mucous membranes; a number of laboratory-acquired cases of glanders have been reported (Howe & Miller, 1947;Srinivasan et al, 2001). …”

Evaluation of PCR, DNA hybridization and immunomagnetic separation — PCR for detection of Burkholderia mallei in artificially inoculated environmental samples

“…The transmission of disease occurs via food and water contaminated by nasal discharge of infected animals [2]. At the turn of the 20th century, glanders was an important cause of death among horses and there were secondary, often fatal infections in human [3]. Presently, the disease has been eradicated from many countries through countermeasures like intensive blood testing, rigorous killing of positive animals and strict trading restrictions [4].…”

“…The acute infection is characterized by necrosis of the tracheobronchial tree, pustular skin lesions and results in either a febrile pneumonia, if the organism was inhaled or signs of sepsis and multiple abscesses, if the skin was the portal of entry. The human infection can be severe and lifethreatening and always fatal if untreated or misdiagnosed [3]. No vaccines are available against glanders and little is known about the appropriate antibiotic regimen [9].…”