The face of warfare has changed dramatically over the last number of centuries and is continually evolving with new technological advancements. From bows and arrows to bombs and missiles, one factor has remained constant - the coupling of weapons and biological agents to increase their potency. Some of the more creative endeavors included placing animal carcasses in an enemy's water well, or catapulting plagued bodies over city walls in an attempt to infect the opposition (1). The current repertoire of biological agents has greatly expanded during the past century due to development in scientific research, which is reflected in a vas

Plague is caused by a bite by a flea infected with the Yersinia Pestis bacteria which, in humans, develops most commonly as bubonic plague, but also as septicemic or pneumonic plague. The bacteria are transported to the lymph nodes where they rapidly multiply, causing destruction and necrosis of the lymph node, which in turn causes bacteremia, septicemia and endotoxemia (6). Symptoms of plague arise 2 to 8 days after being bitten and include fever, chills, weakness and an acutely swollen lymph node. Bubonic plague which develops only as a primary infection, is the most common form (84% of reported cases) and has a fatality rate of 14% (6). Septicemia which accounts for 13% of reported cases, can develop as a primary infection, but also secondary to bubonic plague and has a fatality rate of 22% (6). Pneumonic plague is the least common (2% of reported cases), which has an alarming fatality rate of 57% but can drop as low as 15% if treated early with antibiotics (1,6). With all forms of plague, early detection and treatment with antibiotics is essential. Vaccine for bubonic disease was discontinued in 1999, and a vaccine for pneumonic plague is in development.

Tularemia is a bacterial zoonosis that has the must abundant natural reservoir of infection of all biological agents discussed in this paper. It can be contracted by humans via insect bite, contact with contaminated animal tissue, contact with or ingestion of contaminated food, water, or soil, as well as the inhalation of infective aerosols (8). Tularemia multiplies in microphages and if untreated, will primarily target the lymph nodes, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys (8). Clinical forms of Tularemia include ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, typhoidal, and septic, all of which range in severity depending on virulence, dose and site of infection (8). The septic form has the greatest potential of fatality, for unless treatment is immediate, septic shock, respiratory distress, and organ failure may occur. Tularemia has an incubation period of 2 to 10 days with typical symptoms including fever, chills, abdominal pain, swollen glands, malaise, and weight loss (1,8). Treatment consists of a choice of a variety of antimicrobial drugs with Streptomycin being the drug of choice (8). A vaccine has been created and used by both the Soviet Union and the US, but is currently under review by the FDA.

Botulism is caused by the botulinum neurotoxin released by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum (1). Botulism is contracted naturally through contact (either ingestion or an open wound), or with contaminated food, and by inhalation via artificial aerosolization. Upon absorption, the toxin is transported the peripheral cholinergic synapses via the bloodstream where the release of acetycholine is enzymatically blocked (4). The extent of affliction varies from mild symptoms such as blurred vision or numbness i

Some common words found in the essay are:
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