SPADA

Background • B. suis anecdotally first pathogen developed as a  biological weapon by former US offensive program  (W. Patrick, III,  personal communication) • Infectious dose of 10‐100 organisms validated in  historic “8‐ball” chamber at Ft. Detrick with human  subjects • Aerosol transmission (first noted in swine abattoirs),  but also via fomites and sexual route documented in  animals and humans • Serious acute and chronic symptoms of brucellosis  often complicate correct diagnosis

Background • α‐proteobacteria, Order Rhizobiales, Family  Brucellaceae • Other Brucellaceae include Mycoplana,  Ochrobactrum, Pseudochrobactrum,  Paenochrobactrum, and Crabtreella. • Ten currently recognized species (often with strong   host‐specificity) further divided into biovars • Members of the Rhizobiales are similar enough to  generate false positives (eg Agrobacterium  tumefaciens )