Melioidosis

Suggested Alternatives for Differential Diagnosis Epizootic lymphangitis, ulcerative lymphangitis, strangles, dourine, melioidosis, and fungal infections. 

Category B agents There are eleven Category B agents as follows brucellosis, epsilon toxin (clostridium perfringens), glanders, melioidosis, psittacosis, Q fever, ricin toxin, staphylococcus enterotoxin B, typhus fever, viral encephalitis, and water safety threats. 

Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Glanders (includes Melioidosis)... 

Caution Both glanders and melioidosis may occur in an acute localized form, as an acute pulmonary infection, or as an acute fulminant, rapidly fatal, sepsis. Combinations of these syndromes may occur in human cases. In addition, melioidosis may remain asymptomatic after initial acquisition, and remain quiescent for decades, but these patients may display active melioidosis years later which is often associated with an immune-compromising state. Aerosol infection produced by a biological weapon containing either glanders (B. mallei) or melioidosis (B. pseudomallei) could produce any of these syndromes... 

Melioidosis is endemic in Southeast Asia, wilh the greatest concentration of cases reported in Vietnam, Cambodia. Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), and northern Australia. Additionally, it is seen In the South Pacific, Africa, India, and the Middle East. In many of these countries, BurftbtfdenepseudorneAefisso prevalent that it is a common contaminate foond on laboratory cultures. Moreover, it has been a common pathogen isolated from troops of all nationalities that have served in areas with endemic disease A few isolated cases of melioidosis have occurred in Ihe Western Hemisphere in Mexico, Panama, Ecuador, Haiti, Brail, Peru, Guyana, and... 

Illness from melioidosis can be categorized as acute or localized infection, acute pulmonary infection, acute bloodstream infection, and chronic suppurative infection. Inapparent infections are also possible. The incubation period (time between exposure and appearance of clinical symptoms) is not dearly defined, but may range from 2 days to many years. 

Acute, localized infection This form of infection is generally localized as a nodule and results from inoculation through a break in the skin. The acute form of melioidosis can produce fever and general muscle aches, and may progress rapidly to infect the bloodstream... 

Pulmonary infection This form of the disease can produce a clinical picture of mild bronchitis to severe pneumonia. The onset of pulmonary melioidosis is typically accompanied by a high fever, headache, anorexia, and general muscle soreness. Chest pain is common, but a nonproductive or productive cough with normal sputum is the hallmark of this form of melioidosis. 

Chronic suppurative infection Chronic melioidosis is an infection that involves the organs of the body. These typically include the joints, viscera, lymph nodes, skin, brain, liver, lung, bones, and spleen. 

Melioidosis is diagnosed by isolating Burkhotderia pseudomalteiUom the blood, urine, sputum, or skin lesions. Detecting and measuring antibodies to the bacteria in the blood is another means of diagnosis.. 

Melioidosis can spread from person to person by contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. Two documented cases of male-to-female sexual transmission involved males with chronic prostatic infection due to melioidosis. 

There is no vaccine for melioidosis. Prevention of the infection in endemic-disease... 

Melioidosis Aerosol Negligible High Days to years 4-20 days Variable Stable None Moderately effective No... 

Melioidosis Bacterial disease of rodents that can be transmitted to humans via food contaminated by rodent droppings or biting flies. 

Burkholdera mallei (glanders) Burkholdera pseudomallei (melioidosis)3... 

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