Linked Life Data

12860715

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/12860715

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:dateCreated
2003-7-15
pubmed:abstractText
The diseases caused by rickettsiae vary from mild to severe clinical presentations, with case fatality ranging from none to over 30%. The severity of rickettsial diseases has been associated with age, delayed diagnosis, hepatic and renal dysfunction, central nervous system abnormalities, and pulmonary compromise. Despite the variability in clinical presentations many pathogenic rickettsiae cause debilitating diseases, any one of which could be used as a potential biological weapon. While Rickettsia prowazekii, R. rickettsii, and Coxiella burnetii pose serious problems and are currently considered bioterrorism agents, several other species could cause havoc once intentionally released into human populations. The complicating factors include misdiagnosis due to the similarity of rickettsial-induced clinical signs to many commonly occurring infections and subsequent delayed treatment. Vigilance, preparedness, and the availability of efficacious vaccines and antibiotics are required to avert the morbidity and mortality and disturbances generated by the intentional release of pathogenic rickettsiae into large and immunologically naive human populations. This presentation reviews the rickettsial attributes that make them potential bioterrorism agents, as well as issues related to signs that would alert the responsible authorities, and the preventive measures that could reduce impact of these agents.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jun
pubmed:issn
0077-8923
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
990
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
734-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2003
pubmed:articleTitle
Pathogenic rickettsiae as bioterrorism agents.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 655 West Baltimore, Maryland 21201, USA. aazad@umaryland.edu
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.