The main reason this group is included with poisons is that the living organisms produce toxins (poisons). These toxins are biological wastes produced by the microorganisms. In small doses, the body’s defense systems can handle the toxins. However, as the volume of toxin increases, it overwhelms the body’s ability to defend against it. Toxins travel through the body until they reach a susceptible tissue and cause damage. Examples of typical infectious substances include Bacillus anthracis(anthrax), Botulinum toxin(botulism), Francisellatularensis(tularemia/rabbit fever/deerfly fever), Coxiellaburnetii(rickettsia/Q fever), Venezuelan equine encephalitis(VEE), Brucellasuis(brucellosis/undulant fever/Bang’s disease), smallpox, ricin, mycotoxins, and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB). Infectious substances also includebloodborne pathogens HIV and HBV, as well as any other substance that meets the DOT definition (Table 8.14).