Pulmonary disease from biological agents: anthrax, plague, Q fever, and tularemia.
Anthrax, plague, Q fever, and tularemia are all potential inhalational bioterrorism agents. The pulmonary manifestations of these agents can be readily confused with each other as well as other more common diseases such as influenza and atypical pneumonia. This article reviews the threat potential, microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of each of these agents and highlights the similarities and differences between their pulmonary presentations.
Daya
Mohamud
M
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA. dayam@ohsu.edu
Nakamura
Yoko
Y
D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D023482:Bioterrorism; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D011778:Q Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D014406:Tularemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy