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Biomedical subjects

Amélie Guihot

Publications and source records attributed to Amélie Guihot.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Emerging or re-emerging infections that can be used for bioterrorism].

USED FOR WARFARE: Bioterrorism is a perfectly foreseeable eventuality. It is defined by the international use, or menace of use, of living organisms whatever their nature, or of substances derived from these organisms, aimed at provoking a disease or the death of human beings, animals or plants. UPDATED COUNTERACTING STRATEGIES: More than 180 infectious agents could be used for terrorist ends. The recent events in the dawn of this twenty-first century have reactivated and notably updated the strategies to counteract such an event. Clinical and therapeutic guidelines have been circulated in many countries. INFECTIONS THAT REQUIRE RECOGNITION: The role of practitioners in the rapid recognition of bioterrorism-related infections is crucial. Hence, updated knowledge on these potentially emerging or reemerging infections is required.

Anthrax↗
PubMed2004

[Severe acute respiratory syndrome: a singular epidemic of viral pneumonia].

INFECTIOUS AGENT: The severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a febrile pneumonia initially observed in China at the end of 2002. The infectious agent has rapidly been identified as a new coronavirus, baptised SARS-associated coronavirus (CoV-SARS). Transmission is inter-human, via respiratory particles mainly. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND TREATMENT: The clinical presentation is highly variable, from a mild fever to an acute respiratory distress syndrome. There is no specific treatment. Ribavirin associated with steroids have been used with success in numerous cases. EPIDEMIOLOGY: During the first half of 2003, the spreading of the virus has been very fast, with a pandemic mode of evolution. More than 8,000 people were infected and 774 died. The reservoir of the virus, which may be animal, is still unknown. The epidemic seems to be controlled, but sporadic or epidemic re-emergences may occur and have been observed in China during January 2004.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2004

[Bioterrorism with brucellosis].

A CONTAMINATING SPRAY: Brucellosis is a zoonosis due to a bacteria of the Brucella. B. melitensis species and is the principle agent of human brucellosis. The interest of Brucella as a biological weapon resides in the fact that transmission through a spray is possible, as has been reported with human contamination during abortion of infected animals or bacterial spraying in laboratories. The bacteria is highly contagious. It is suggested that 10 to 100 bacteria would be sufficient to produce a contaminating spray for humans. THE MENACE: In 1954, B. suis was the first infectious agent used as a biological weapon in the United States. Several other countries have been suspected of studying the agent as a biological weapon, but to date, no use of Brucella in a bioterrorist attack has been reported. THE EXTENT OF RISK: Brucella, and notably B. melitensis and B. suis, are considered as agents unlikely to be used as biological weapons: their incubation is long, the majority of infections are asymptomatic and mortality is low. However, the morbidity of this agent should not be underrated since it leads to chronic and disabling pathologies.

Bioterrorism↗
PubMed2003

[Q fever, a potential biowarfare agent].

SEVERAL POSSIBLE METHODS OF TRANSFUSION: Q fever is a zoonosis due to Coxiella burnetii. Its interest as a potential biowarfare agent is in its possible transmission by inhalation of sprayed particles. This form of transmission would probably be used: the inhalation of 1 to 10 bacteria could provoke the development of an infection in humans. Another possible method of transmission in the context of a terrorist act would be the intentional introduction of the bacteria into foodstuff. A DISABLING WEAPON: However, C. burnetii has never been used as a biological weapon. The probability that this germ could be used is very low: indeed, the incubation of Q fever is very long, and the majority of the infections is asymptomatic and mortality is low. In fact C. burnetii would more likely be used as a disabling weapon.

Air Microbiology↗