What did you hold in your hands today?
Me? Glad you asked.
I had in my hands today the bacteria that causes what is considered to be the sixth plague outlined in the Book of Exodus - anthrax (bacillus anthracis), yersinia pestis that causes plague - the same Black Plague of Eurpoean history in the 1300's, and Francisella tularensis that causes the disease known as tularemia or rabbit fever.
Anthrax (bacillus anthracis) gets its name from the Greek word for coal - anthrakis. The cutaneous form of the disease creates black eschar wounds on its victim, hence the name. We study anthrax as a potential bioterrorism weapon becuase it's readily available (occurs naturally among hooved animals) and is relatively easily cultured. Anthrax can also manifest as a gastric disease, or as a pulmonary disease. The pneumonic form is the most deadly among the three.
The Black Death of Europe 1347-1353 is considered to have caused the death of approximately one-third of Europe's population. Yersinia pestis is another naturally occurring disease, especially in rodents and can be transmitted to humans by infected fleas. Like anthrax, we pay close attention to this one due to it's relative availability. It, too, can present in three forms. The bubonic presentation indicates an infection of the lymph nodes. Septicemic plague is an infection of the bloodstream. Pneumonic plague, like anthrax, is the most deadly and can be easily spread from person-to-person.
Tularemia is a disease found in North America mostly in beavers and muskrats, and can be carried to humans by a vector such as fleas or flies. While the disease isn't seen all that often, it is of concern because it can be reasonably isolated, cultured, and disseminated as a biological agent.
Why write? Well, for one, it's not every day that an opportunity to hold in your own hands the causative bacteria of two diseases of antiquity. I thought it was pretty interesting. We were given the opportunity to study them closely under the microscope, then to sample them and utilize field tests that your local fire & police may have. My team of 6 (3 from Mississippi, 2 from Texas, and one from South Carolina) may never have such an opportunity again.
And it'll give you something to think about the next time you shake my hand.
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