The vulture

'' 'Sperm whale' '(malleus, Czech) is a very dangerous contagious disease of solipeds (horses, donkeys, mules), transmissible to feline carnivores and humans. It occurs mostly chronically with the formation of specific nodules on the skin, mucous membranes and internal organs, which tend to disintegrate. The causative agent is the bacterium  Burkholderia mallei  (formerly  Pseudomonas mallei ).  B. mallei  is included in the second most dangerous category biological weapons.

History of glanders
The disease has been known since ancient times. The originator was isolated in 1882 Loffler and Schutz. Suffocation was very widespread in Europe, especially in 1921–1934. In Slovakia, the disease was definitively controlled in 1950.Currently occurs mainly in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America.

Cause of mumps
The cauliflower is caused by the bacterium   'Burkholderia mallei'  . It is a gram-negative, strictly aerobic, slim, immobile rod with rounded ends. In the pathological material, the rods are arranged separately, or in pairs or clusters. At 55 ° C, the bacteria are killed in 10 minutes. It is also not very resistant to common disinfectants. Obvious or latently ill animals are the source of the infection. These contaminate feed, water and the environment (tools, instruments, cleaning tools). The causative agent of the mumps often enters the body orally (contaminated feed, water), but also through injured skin, mucous membranes, respiratory and digestive tract.

Symptoms of mumps
The mumps manifests itself in about 2-3 weeks to several months (incubation period). It can take place:
 * acute;
 * chronic;
 * latent.

In each form of fescue, maleus nodules of various sizes are typically formed on the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the limbs, the sides of the chest and the abdomen. After their disintegration, cratered ulcers form, which are very difficult to heal. New nodules form around the ulcer and the course of the lymphatic vessels, which in turn disintegrate.


 *  'Acute form'  of somnolence (especially in donkeys and their hybrids) - increased body temperature, purulent discharge from the nasal cavity with blood, ulcers on the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and skin, lymph nodes are enlarged and very painful, rapid breathing, rapid weight loss, death within 2-3 weeks.


 *  'Chronic form'  (especially in horses) - symptoms depend on the location and stage of the disease.


 *  'Latent form'  - can occur even without obvious clinical signs - inapparently, the course varies in length, it can take several years.


 *  'Nasal form'  - a purulent discharge from the nasal cavity with an admixture of blood, maleotic nodules on the mucosa, gradually disintegrating and changing into ulcers, the healing of which is slow and the result is radial scars.


 *  'Pulmonary form'  - a few typical clinical symptoms - in addition to increased fatigue, worsening of nutritional status, occasional fevers, advanced disease cough and shortness of breath.

Diagnosis of glanders
The diagnosis is made on the basis of the results of clinical, allergological (ocular maleinization), microbiological and pathological-morphological examination.

Differential diagnostics
Tuberculosis, melioidosis (pseudomalleus), corynebacteriosis and actinomycosis come into consideration.

Treatment of measles
Because cases of fever in humans are very rare, there is limited information on antibiotic treatment. penicillin, tetracyclines, chloramphenicol is recommended.

Fever prevention
Vaccination is not performed. Suspected or sick animals are not treated. Diagnosed animals are sacrificed and their bodies destroyed. Suspected animals are isolated and re-examined.

Risk of plague infection
In addition to people caring for the affected animals, individuals handling the infected animal or material (veterinarians, laboratory workers, butchers, slaughterhouse workers) may be at risk of infection.

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 * Burkholderia mallei