Molecular Identification of the Biowarfare Simulant Serratia marcescens from a 50-Year-Old Munition Buried at Fort Detrick, Maryland

Authors: Whitehouse, Chris A.; Baldwin, Carson; Wasieloski, Leonard; Kondig, John; Scherer, John

Source: Military Medicine, Volume 172, Number 8, August 2007 , pp. 860-863(4)

Publisher: AMSUS - Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

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Abstract:

serratia marcescens are Gram-negative bacteria that were often used by the U.S. military and others to track movement of bacteria in the environment. As part of ongoing construction at Fort Detrick, Maryland, what appeared to be a small bomblet was found buried in the ground at the site of an old test grid. A sample of a clear, straw-colored liquid was aseptically removed from the plastic reservoir; the results of routine cultures on standard bacteriological media were negative. DNA was extracted from the sample and found to be 99% identical to S. marcescens. These results demonstrate the ability to identify the contents of a biological munition that had been buried for ∼50 years.

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2007-08-01

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Military Medicine is the Association's official monthly journal. The objective of the Journal is to promote awareness of Federal medicine by providing a forum for responsible discussion of common ideas and problems relevant to Federal healthcare. Its mission is: To increase healthcare education by providing scientific and other information to its readers; to facilitate communication; and to offer a prestige publication for members' writings.

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