Basicmedical Key

Plague Anthony J. Carbone NAME OF AGENT Disease: Plague; Organism: Yersinia pestis. MICROBIOLOGY The disease known as plague is caused by Yersinia pestis, a bacterium of the Enterobacteriaceae family. The…

Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers Erik J. Won Anthony Carbone NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF AGENTS Viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) has a variety of clinical manifestations and causative agents but is best characterized…

Smallpox Lisa Rotz Inger Damon Joanne Cono NAME OF AGENT Variola (Smallpox) Virus MICROBIOLOGY The etiological agent of smallpox is a double-stranded DNA virus, variola virus, which belongs to the…

Anthrax Anthony J. Carbone NAME OF AGENT DISEASE: ANTHRAX; ORGANISM: BACILLUS ANTHRACIS. THEORETICAL AND SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND Anthrax is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Its name is…

Incapacitating Agents: BZ, Calmative Agents, and Riot Control Agents Yedidia Bentur John Gomez 3-QUINUCLIDINYL BENZILATE OR BZ NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF AGENT 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate, code named by the Army and…

Phosgene and Toxic Gases Melissa L. Givens NAME AND DESCRIPTION OF AGENT Toxic gases, also known as choking agents, are the forerunners of modern chemical warfare. Chlorine gas was first…

Cyanide Rebeca Gracia Pharm. D. THEORETICAL AND SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND HISTORY Cyanide was used as a poison for centuries before the chemical was isolated and identified. Ancient records from Egypt make…

Vesicating Agents Including Mustard and Lewisite Stacey L. Hail Daniel C. Keyes MUSTARDS Vesicating agents are chemicals named for causing blistering; they have a long military history. The mustards include…

Chemical Nerve Agents Daniel C. Keyes INTRODUCTION Terrorism has become a reality of life in many parts of the world. News reports frequently remind us of those individuals and groups…