A sampling of Bacillus anthracis—Anthrax
A biological agent is a bacterium, virus, prion, fungus, or biological toxin that can be used in bioterrorism or biological warfare. More than 1200 different kinds of biological agents have been described and studied to date. Applying a slightly broader definition, some eukaryotes (for example parasites) and their associated toxins can be considered as biological agents.
Biological agents have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild allergic reactions to serious medical conditions, even death. These organisms are ubiquitous in the natural environment; they are found in water, soil, plants, and animals. Because many biological agents reproduce rapidly and require minimal resources for preservation, they are a potential danger in a wide variety of occupational settings.
Biological and toxin agents of military importance
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Bacterial Biological AgentsEdit
| Disease | Causative Agent (Military Symbol) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Anthrax | Bacillus anthracis (N) or (TR) | |
| Brucellosis (bovine) | Brucella abortus (AB) | |
| Brucellosis (caprine) | Brucella melitensis (AM) or (BX) | |
| Brucellosis (porcine) | Brucella suis (US) or (NX) | |
| Cholera | Vibrio cholerae (HO) | |
| Diphtheria | Corynebacterium diphtheriae (DK) | |
| Dysentery (bacterial) | Shigella dysenteriae, some species of Escherichia coli (Y) | |
| Glanders | Burkholderia mallei (LA) | |
| Listeriosis | Listeria monocytogenes (TQ) | |
| Melioidosis | Burkholderia pseudomallei (HI) | |
| Yersinia pestis (LE) | ||
| Tularemia | Francisella tularensis (SR) or (JT) |
Chlamydial Biological AgentsEdit
| Disease | Causative Agent (Military Symbol) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Psittacosis | Chlamydophila psittaci (SI) |
Rickettsial Biological AgentsEdit
| Disease | Causative Agent (Military Symbol) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Q fever | Coxiella burnetii (OU) | |
| Rocky Mountain spotted fever | Rickettsia rickettsii (RI) or (UY) | |
| Typhus (human) | Rickettsia prowazekii (YE) | |
| Typhus (murine) | Rickettsia typhi (AV) |
Viral Biological AgentsEdit
| Disease | Causative Agent (Military Symbol) | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equine Encephalitis (Eastern) | Eastern equine encephalitis virus (ZX) | ||
| Equine Encephalitis (Venezuelan) | Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis virus (FX) | ||
| Equine Encephalitis (Western) | Western equine encephalitis virus (FX) | ||
| Japanese B encephalitis | Japanese encephalitis virus (AN) | ||
| Rift Valley fever | Rift Valley fever virus(FA) | ||
| Smallpox | Variola virus (ZL) | ||
| Yellow fever | Yellow fever virus (OJ) |
Mycotic Biological AgentsEdit
| Disease | Causative Agent (Military Symbol) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Coccidiomycosis | Coccidioides immitis (OC) |
Biological ToxinsEdit
| Toxin | Source of Toxin (Military Symbol) | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Botulinum toxins (A through G) | (X) or (XR) | |
| Ricin | castor bean (Ricinus communis) (W) or (WA) | |
| Saxitoxin | various marine dinoflagellates (TZ) or (SS) | |
| Staphyloccocal enterotoxin B | Staphylococcus aureus (UC) or (PG) | |
| Tetrodotoxin | various marine bacteria, including Vibrio alginolyticus, Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis (PP) | |
| Trichothecene mycotoxins | various species of fungi, including Fusarium, Trichoderma, and Stachybotrys |
Biological VectorsEdit
| Vector (Military Symbol) | Disease | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Mosquito (Aedes aegypti) (AP) | Malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, other Arboviruses | |
| Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis) | , Murine typhus |
SimulantsEdit
- MR - molasis residium
- BG - Bacillus globigii
- BS - Bacillus globigii
- U - Bacillus globigii
- SM - Serratia marescens
- P - Serratia marescens
- AF - Aspergillus fumigatus mutant C-2
- EC - E. coli
- BT - Bacillus thursidius
- EH - Erwinia hebicola
- FP - fluorescent particle
See alsoEdit
External linksEdit
- U.S. Department of Labor - Biological Agents
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - Select Agents and Toxins
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