Challenges on the diagnostics of bioterrorism related health disorders

Bioterrorism using biological warfare agents or pathogens of exotic diseases poorly known in Central Europe may threaten soldiers deployed in world wide crisis management missions. In order to treat bioterrorism-related health disorders (BRHD) and to prevent epidemics in case of high contagious diseases efficiently, a rapid, early and reliable diagnosis is essential. From scientific, technical and legal points of view it is difficult to ensure this important task of the Biological Medical Defence. The wide range of potential biological threat agents and the high pheno- and genotypic variety or variablity of certain pathogens and their special features of the pathogenesis and immunity can complicate a diagnostics of BRHD.