Glanders

What is Glanders ?

Glanders is an occupational disease conveyed by horses to their attendants. The causative organism is the Bacillus mallei. The hands and face are the sites of choice.

Clinically, it is an ulcer, looking like a syphilitic ulcer, but developing rather rapidly, accompanied by constitutional symptoms like fever and an increased pulse rate. Infrequently, pustules and pustular swellings are seen.

Diagnosis of Glanders

Glanders is made by the clinical exclusion of other conditions; from the occupational history; by a microscopic demonstration of the causative organisms and by guinea-pig inoculation.

Treatment of Glanders

It consists in the radical destruction of the ulcer. Mallin vaccine has been tried with success. Septran (P) and antibiotics are usually recommended.