On the risk of mortality to primates exposed to anthrax spores

Risk Anal. 2002 Apr;22(2):189-93. doi: 10.1111/0272-4332.00028.

Abstract

Current events have heightened the importance of understanding the risks from inhalation exposure to small numbers of spores of Bacillus anthracis. Previously reported data sets have not been fully assessed using current understanding of microbial dose response. This article presents an assessment of the reported primate dose-response data. At low doses, the risk to large populations of low doses of inhaled spores (e.g., < 100) is not insignificant.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Anthrax / etiology*
  • Anthrax / mortality
  • Bacillus anthracis / pathogenicity
  • Bioterrorism* / prevention & control
  • Bioterrorism* / statistics & numerical data
  • Colony Count, Microbial
  • Databases, Factual
  • Humans
  • Likelihood Functions
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Macaca mulatta
  • Models, Biological
  • Risk Assessment
  • Spores, Bacterial / pathogenicity