Glanders

Glanders:) cool XP by Alison

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. Glanders is endemic in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Central and South America. It has been eradicated from North America, Australia and most of Europe through surveillance and destruction of affected animals, and import restrictions.The bacterium thrives in glycerin at the optimal temperature of 37 degrees Celsius. The bacterium dies in the presence of heat and antiseptics. It is caused by infection with the bacterium Burkholderia mallei usually by ingestion of contamin food or water.

Glanders can spread from one Person-to-person spread of glanders is extremely rare. People who get the disease usually have had close contact with an infected animal. The bacteria usually enter the body through breaks in the skin or through the eyes, nose or mouth. The bacteria can infect the skin or lungs or can spread throughout the body. Symptoms of skin infection include rashes, bumps under the skin, or open, draining wounds. Symptoms of lung infection include cough, fever, shortness of breath or lung abscesses. When glanders spreads throughout the body through the blood, symptoms include fever, chills, muscle aches, chest pain, skin rash, diarrhea or enlargement of the liver and/or spleen. Some people have symptoms that come and go over a long period of time. Glander usually appears within 1 to 14 days after exposure.

Glanders is diagnosed through special laboratory tests. Depending on the type of glanders, samples may be taken from different parts of the body. Glanders is treated with antibiotics. Healthcare providers choose the antibiotic based on the patient’s symptoms and the results of laboratory tests. Unfortunately there is currently no vaccine for glanders.

Resources: Glanders - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glande

Glanders- Biological Weapons. (n.d.). //GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information//. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/intro/bio-glanders.htm

Glanders: essential data. (n.d.). //CBWInfo home//. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from http://www.cbwinfo.com/Biologic

Glanders. (n.d.). //Virginia Department of Health//. Retrieved August 20, 2011, from http://www.vdh.state.va.us/OEP/A