Biological Threat Fact Sheets
Anthrax
Agent: Bacillus anthracis
There are three clinical forms of B. anthracis which are determined by route of entry:
- Pulmonary or Inhalation—BT implications
- Cutaneous—most common
- Gastrointestinal
Key Characteristics:
- Aerobic or facultative anaerobe
- Spore-forming
- Gram-positive rods
- Non-hemolytic (gamma)
- Non-motile
Acceptable Specimens:
- Isolate
- Cutaneous anthrax: sterile swab from vesicular or eschar stage
- Gastrointestinal anthrax: Blood culture, stool (≥5 g) or rectal swab
- Inhalational anthrax: Blood culture, lower respiratory specimen (>1ml)
- Environmental samples submitted by law enforcement personnel
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Brucellosis
Agent: Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis, and Brucella canis
- Aerosols of Brucella spp. are considered to be highly infectious.
- B. melitensis produces the most severe and acute form of disease.
- B. abortus produces a more chronic form of disease.
- B. suis may also cause severe acute disease, but is associated with osteomyelitis.
- B. canis rarely causes disease in humans.
Key Characteristics:
- Small gram-negative coccobacilli
- Slow-grower, colonies appear after 48-72 hrs of incubation
- Non-motile
- Oxidase positive
- Urease positive
- X and V factors not required
Acceptable Specimens:
- Isolate
- Blood culture
- Bone marrow
- Tissue sample
- Environmental samples submitted by law enforcement personnel
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Botulism
Agent: Clostridium botulinum
There are three forms of botulism:
- Foodborne (classic form)
- Wound
- Intestinal (infant and adult)
Key Points:
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Please have physician consult with the Infectious Disease Control Unit (IDCU) prior to sample collection:
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(800) 252-8239 (“press 1”)
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Acceptable Specimens:
- Stool
- 10-50 grams recommended for an adult
- ≥5 grams recommended for an infant
- Do not freeze
- Serum
- 10ml minimum for an adult is recommended
- Not recommended for infant testing
- Wound
- Tissue from a biopsy or swab from deep in the wound
- Tissue from a biopsy or swab from deep in the wound
- Food
- Only tested if associated with a confirmed botulism case
Shipping conditions:
- Stools and serum
- Should be shipped cold (on cold packs, not dry ice) by overnight courier
- Wound
- Ship tissue in anaerobic atmosphere
- Swab in anaerobic transport for swabs
- Ship without refrigeration
- Food
- Should be shipped in original container under current storage conditions (Example: cold storage submitted cold; frozen storage submitted frozen; etc)
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Tularemia
Agent: Francisella tularemia
- Aerosols of F. tularensis. are considered to be highly infectious.
- Two subspecies cause human disease:
- F. tularensis subsp. tularensis (highly virulent)
- F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (less virulent)
Key Characteristics:
- Tiny gram-negative coccobacilli
- Slow-grower, colonies appear after 48-72 hrs of incubation
- Usually requires cysteine supplementation
- Non-motile
- Oxidase negative
- Urease negative
- Beta-lactamase positive
- X and V factors not required
Acceptable Specimens:
- Isolate
- Blood culture
- Biopsied tissue or scraping of an ulcer (preferable)
- Swab of an ulcer (acceptable alternative)
- Tissue aspirate
- Environmental samples submitted by law enforcement personnel
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Plague
Agent: Yersinia pestis
- Three forms of plague:
- Bubonic: infected lymph nodes
- Septicemic: blood-borne organisms
- Pneumonic: transmissible person-to-person; deadliest
Key Characteristics:
- Gram-negative coccobacilli with bipolar staining
- Colonies appear after 24-48 hrs of incubation
- Grows better at 22-25°C
- Non-motile
- Oxidase negative
- Urease negative
Acceptable Specimens:
- Isolate
- Bubonic: Aspirate of involved tissue (bubonic) or biopsied specimen: Tissue or aspirates that can be obtained for culture include liver, spleen, bone marrow, lymph node, and/or lung
- Septicemic: blood
- Pneumonic: Bronchial wash or transtracheal aspirate (>1 ml)
- Environmental samples submitted by law enforcement personnel
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Melioidosis / Glanders
Agent: Burholderia pseudomallei and Burkholderia mallei
- B. pseudomallei- causative agent of melioidosis
- B. mallei – causative agent of glanders
Key Characteristics:
- B. pseudomallei
- Gram-negative rods with bipolar staining
- Oxidase positive
- Indole negative
- Motile
- Resistant to colistin/polymyxin B
- B. mallei
- Faintly staining, gram-negative coccobacilli
- Oxidase variable
- Indole negative
- Non-motile
- Resistant to colistin/polymyxin B
Acceptable Specimens:
- Isolate
- Blood
- Urine
- Abscesses, tissue aspirates, fluids
- Environmental samples submitted by law enforcement personnel
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Ricin Toxin
Agent: Ricin toxin
- Ricin toxin is derived from castor beans, Ricinus communis.
- Medical tests to confirm that a person has been exposed to ricin are not widely available.
- No antidote exists for ricin.
Acceptable Specimens:
- Clinical:
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, does not currently accept clinical samples for ricin toxin testing.
- Serum (acute and convalescent – 2 weeks apart) testing is performed at the CDC
- Not indicated unless a known exposure has occurred
- Environmental: food, beverage, soil, water, powder, swabs, wipes, paper, plant material
- Submitted by law enforcement personnel only
Specimen collection:
- Collect specimens in plastic containers and be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping
- Store specimens at room temperature or refrigerate
- NEVER freeze or heat samples suspected of containing ricin toxin, as this will denature the toxin
Specimen Submission:
Prior to submission, Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B (SEB)
Agent: Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB)
- SEB is one of several exotoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus.
- SEB is the enterotoxin that most commonly causes classic food poisoning.
Acceptable Specimens:
- Clinical: Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, does not currently accept clinical sample for SEB testing.
- Environmental: paper, powder, swabs, wipes, water, soil, food, beverage
- Submitted by law enforcement personnel only
Specimen Submission:
Prior to submission, Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Q Fever
Agent: Coxiella burnetii
- C. burnetii is an obligate intracellular organism and cannot be cultured on routine bacteriologic media.
- Due to the extreme infectivity of C. burnetii, Level A (Sentinel) laboratories should not attempt to culture this organism.
Acceptable Specimens:
-
Blood - Collect blood in EDTA (lavender) or sodium citrate (blue) and maintain at 4°C for storage and shipping for PCR or special cultures
Specimen Submission:
All specimens must be triple contained in accordance with federal shipping regulations. All clinical specimens must be accompanied by a specimen submission form (G-27A). Prior to submission, please call (512) 776-3781.
Emergency Contacts
Biological Threat Response • 24/7 Emergency
Phone: (512) 689-5537
Chemical Threat Response • 24/7 Emergency
Phone: (512) 689-9945