what is glanders and describe its Biological warfare use?
Glanders Glanders is a disease in horses and other Equidae (horse family of animals, order Perissodactyla), but can be transmitted to humans and other domestic animals. The disease is also known as farcy. The bacterial agent, Burkholderia mallei, of glanders is a rod-shaped bacteria typically rounded at the ends. In cultures, the bacterium appears in pairs or short chains. The bacterium thrives in glycerin at the optimal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. The bacterium dies in the presence of heat and antiseptics. The severe form of the disease can kill the Equidae victim in a few weeks. Horses are the only reservoir of Glanders. Infected animals are typically slaughtered to contain the disease. The disease is rare in humans but could be contracted by humans through close contact with horses or ingesting horse meat. The ancient disease is believed to have accompanied the early domestication of horses. The disease was first described by Aristotle in the mid 3rd Century BCE; it was also
Glanders was used as biological warfare during World War I. The Germans used it as a weapon by infecting large numbers of Russian horses and mule, as a result the horses and mules we re sick. In that time period, they depended on horses for transportation and convoy. After WWI, an increased number of human cases were discovered in Russia. Sources: www.wikipedia.
Glanders Glanders is a disease in horses and other Equidae (horse family of animals, order Perissodactyla), but can be transmitted to humans and other domestic animals. The disease is also known as farcy. The bacterial agent, Burkholderia mallei, of glanders is a rod-shaped bacteria typically rounded at the ends. In cultures, the bacterium appears in pairs or short chains. The bacterium thrives in glycerin at the optimal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. The bacterium dies in the presence of heat and antiseptics. The severe form of the disease can kill the Equidae victim in a few weeks. Horses are the only reservoir of Glanders. Infected animals are typically slaughtered to contain the disease. The disease is rare in humans but could be contracted by humans through close contact with horses or ingesting horse meat. The ancient disease is believed to have accompanied the early domestication of horses. The disease was first described by Aristotle in the mid 3rd Century BCE; it was also
Due to the high mortality rate in humans and the small number of organisms required to establish infection, Burkholderia mallei is regarded as a potential biological warfare (BW) or bioterrorism agent, as is the closely related organism, Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis. During World War I, glanders was believed to have been spread deliberately by German agents to infect large numbers of Russian horses and mules on the Eastern Front.[3] This had an effect on troop and supply convoys as well as on artillery movement, which were dependent on horses and mules. Human cases in Russia increased with the infections during and after WWI. The Japanese deliberately infected horses, civilians, and prisoners of war with B. mallei at the Pinfang (China) Institute during World War II.
