Malleus

The vulture (malleus) is a very dangerous contagious disease of ungulates (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 Burkholderia mallei (formerly Pseudomonas mallei ). B. mallei is included in the second category of the most dangerous biological weapons.

History and Spread of Glanders
The disease has been known since ancient times. The author was isolated in 1882 by Loffler and Schutz. Spider was very widespread in Europe, especially in 1921–1934. In Slovakia, the disease was definitively controlled in 1950. At present, it 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 mumps (especially in donkeys and their hybrids) - increased body temperature, purulent discharge from the nasal cavity and 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 - it can occur even without obvious clinical symptoms - inapparently, the course varies for a long time, it can last several years.


 * Nasal form - a purulent discharge from the nasal cavity with an admixture of blood, male 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.

Differential Diagnosis
Tuberculosis, melioidosis (pseudomalleus), corynebacteriosis and actinomycosis are considered.

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

Gland Disease 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
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.

Related Articles

 * Burkholderia mallei

Literature

 * ŠVRČEK, Štefan. Bacterial and fungal diseases of animals. 1st edition. Košice: M & M, 1998.  ISBN 8088950031.


 * SLANINA, Ľudovít and Jozef SOKOL. Vademecum veterinarian. 1st edition. Bratislava: Nature, 1991.  ISBN 80-07-00419-X.


 * BADALÍK, L.  Vademecum medici. 1st edition. Martin: Osveta, 1995.  ISBN 80-217-0506-X.