A sampling of Bacillus anthracis —Anthrax
A biological agent is a bacterium, virus, prion, fungus, or biological toxin that can be used in bioterrorism or biological warfare . More than 1200 different kinds of biological agents have been described and studied to date. Applying a slightly broader definition, some eukaryotes (for example parasites) and their associated toxins can be considered as biological agents.
Biological agents have the ability to adversely affect human health in a variety of ways, ranging from relatively mild allergic reactions to serious medical conditions, even death. These organisms are ubiquitous in the natural environment; they are found in water, soil, plants, and animals. Because many biological agents reproduce rapidly and require minimal resources for preservation, they are a potential danger in a wide variety of occupational settings.
Biological and toxin agents of military importance Bacterial Biological Agents
Disease
Causative Agent (Military Symbol )
Comments
Anthrax
Bacillus anthracis (N) or (TR)
Brucellosis (bovine)
Brucella abortus (AB)
Brucellosis (caprine)
Brucella melitensis (AM) or (BX)
Brucellosis (porcine)
Brucella suis (US) or (NX)
Cholera
Vibrio cholerae (HO)
Diphtheria
Corynebacterium diphtheriae (DK)
Dysentery (bacterial)
Shigella dysenteriae , some species of Escherichia coli (Y)
Glanders
Burkholderia mallei (LA)
Listeriosis
Listeria monocytogenes (TQ)
Melioidosis
Burkholderia pseudomallei (HI)
Yersinia pestis (LE)
Tularemia
Francisella tularensis (SR) or (JT)
Chlamydial Biological Agents
Disease
Causative Agent (Military Symbol )
Comments
Psittacosis
Chlamydophila psittaci (SI)
Rickettsial Biological Agents
Disease
Causative Agent (Military Symbol )
Comments
Q fever
Coxiella burnetii (OU)
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Rickettsia rickettsii (RI) or (UY)
Typhus (human)
Rickettsia prowazekii (YE)
Typhus (murine)
Rickettsia typhi (AV)
Viral Biological Agents
Disease
Causative Agent (Military Symbol )
Comments
Equine Encephalitis (Eastern)
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (ZX)
Equine Encephalitis (Venezuelan)
Venezuelan Equine Encephalomyelitis virus (FX)
Equine Encephalitis (Western)
Western equine encephalitis virus (FX)
Japanese B encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis virus (AN)
Rift Valley fever
Rift Valley fever virus (FA)
Smallpox
Variola virus (ZL)
Yellow fever
Yellow fever virus (OJ)
Mycotic Biological Agents
Disease
Causative Agent (Military Symbol )
Comments
Coccidiomycosis
Coccidioides immitis (OC)
Biological Toxins
Toxin
Source of Toxin (Military Symbol )
Comments
Botulinum toxins (A through G)
(X) or (XR)
Ricin
castor bean (Ricinus communis) (W) or (WA)
Saxitoxin
various marine dinoflagellates (TZ) or (SS)
Staphyloccocal enterotoxin B
Staphylococcus aureus (UC) or (PG)
Tetrodotoxin
various marine bacteria, including Vibrio alginolyticus , Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis (PP)
Trichothecene mycotoxins
various species of fungi, including Fusarium , Trichoderma , and Stachybotrys
Biological Vectors
Vector (Military Symbol )
Disease
Comments
Mosquito (Aedes aegypti ) (AP)
Malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever, other Arboviruses
Oriental rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis )
, Murine typhus
Simulants MR - molasis residium
BG - Bacillus globigii
BS - Bacillus globigii
U - Bacillus globigii
SM - Serratia marescens
P - Serratia marescens
AF - Aspergillus fumigatus mutant C-2
EC - E. coli
BT - Bacillus thursidius
EH - Erwinia hebicola
FP - fluorescent particle See also Toxin
Biological hazard Laboratory Response Network External links
