There is a disease that was once regarded as a worldwide trouble but has now been reduced to some parts of the world due to the programs created to eradicate the disease, the disease is named Glanders.
Glanders is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia mallei, the United States is believed to be currently free from the problems of this disease even if some parts of South America, Asia, and Africa are not free from it.
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The bacteria is considered a potential agent of bioterrorism due to its highly contagious and fatal nature, especially with humans.
Glanders majorly affects donkeys, mules, and horses, and it can become a fatal situation for mules and donkeys. There is also a serious possibility of infection for camels, dogs, goats, and cats.
When one horseint a herd gets infected, it creates a high probability for others to get infected too within the same herd. This is because of close contact, especially through the sharing of water, feed, and nuzzling.
Material objects can also actively contribute to the spread of the bacteria. Humans can get the bacteria when they have an open cut or wound and hen proceed to have contact with an infected animal.
When humans get the disease, it begins to affect the lungs, skin, and sometimes their entire body. With signs in the form of; chest pain, muscle aches, and pneumonia that rapidly develop.
Ulcers or nodules may then start to develop in the, nose, mouth, or eyes. It is a painful disease that if not treated correctly could lead to eventual death.
There is no vaccine for Glandeas at the time of the research of the articles used for this content, but the best bet is to easily identify the signs and quickly separate the affected animal from others.
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The incubation phase for the disease varies between days to months depending on its level of exposure. The clinical cases of Glanders could be; acute, chronic, or latent.
The acute form is more common amongst donkeys and mules, characterized by a high fever that is moderate, cough, depression, and weight loss. The nasal discharge is often thick and has a yellowish-white color. The end case is mostly likely death.
The chronic form of Glanders is most often seen in horses, showing symptoms of cough, weight loss, intermittent fever, bloody nose, and a yellowish-green nasal discharge.
The infection could remain in the body of the affected animal for a long time, with time to time episodes occurring and stopping, and eventually, it becomes a fatal condition.
The latent form of the disease shows minimal clinical signs which include; nasal discharge, fever, and breathing difficulty.
In the United States, it is prohibited against the current regulations to treat Glanders. Affected animals are immediately returned to the country they came from, and the animals that have been exposed to affected humans are quarantined.
The symptoms shown by humans will be one of these things;
Cutaneous Infection, when there is a swelling or sore at the site of skin. Swollen lymph nodes are also possible.
Upper respiratory infection, pus or mucus discharging from the north.
Pulmonary infection where the lungs get infected, the person may have pneumonia, access in the lungs or a situation of large pockets of fluid in the lung cavity.
Septicemic form has to do with bacteria spreading from other parts of the body to the bloodstream. It can cause fever, diarrhea, and chest pain.
In most scenarios, Glanders would not lead to death until infection flows into the bloodstream and that would take 7-10 days for the person to die.
The disease is too deadly to be taken for granted. Humans who are at high risk of exposure to the disease need to practice good hygiene and report a sign whenever one is noticed.
References.
britannica.com/science/glanders
anipedia.org/resources/glanders/928
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