Other biologic toxin bioweapons: ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, and trichothecene mycotoxins.
The ideal biologic warfare agent is lethal, easy, and inexpensive to produce in large quantities, stable in aerosol for/with the ability to be dispersed over wide areas, has no effective treatment or vaccine, and is communicable from person to person. With the exception of the last characteristic, the biologic toxins (ricin, staphylococcal enterotoxin B, T-2 mycotoxin, and botulinum) possess all the properties mentioned. This article will discuss the first three biologic toxins, with an emphasis on particular points of interest to the dermatologist. Botulinum toxin will be covered in another article.
Henghold
William B
WB
Dermatology Service, Tripler Army Medical Center Hawaii, 1 Jarrett White Road, HI 96859-5000, USA. William.Henghold@amedd.army.mil
D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D023482:Bioterrorism; D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012276:Ricin / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D014255:Trichothecenes / Q000378:metabolism; D014481:United States
D002619:Chemical Warfare Agents; D004768:Enterotoxins; D009183:Mycotoxins; D014255:Trichothecenes; C031818:enterotoxin B, staphylococcal; D012276:Ricin