Biological warfare botulinum toxins

Middlebrook, J.L. and Eranz, D.R. (1997). Botulinum toxins. In Textbook of Military Medicine, Part I Warfare, Weaponry, and the Casualty. Medical Aspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. Sidell, F.R., Takafuji, E.T., and Eranz, D.R. (eds). Washington, D.C. Office of the Surgeon General, Department of the Army, pp. 643-654. 

Shoham, D. 2000. Iraq s biological warfare agents a comprehensive analysis. Curr. Rev. Microbiol. 263 179-204. Simpson, L.L. 1981. The origin, structure, and pharmacological activity of botulinum toxin. Pharmacol. Rev. 

B. Clinical Features. A biological warfare attack with botulinum toxin delivered by aerosol would be expected to cause symptoms similar in most respects to those observed with food-borne botulism. 

Botulinum toxins have been well studied for their use in the military. There is, however, no evidence to confirm its use in the past in any war. This agent can pose a dangerous threat to human population in any biological warfare or from the act of bioterrorism. The toxin can be dispersed in the air as aerosols or it can be mixed to contaminate water or food. Although it is banned, some countries are believed to possess clandestine stockpiles of this agent. 

Medical personnel must remember, however, that with the advances of molecular genetics, it is possible to clone and produce many natural neurotoxins in relatively large quantities. For the present (1996), botulinum poisoning is a much more likely biological warfare agent than snake venom toxins. In future years, other (cloned) neurotoxins should be considered in the diagnosis. 

---