Yersinia pestis, the etiological agent of the zoonosis plague, is transmitted from diseased rodents to humans by the bite of infected fleas . The disease can also result by inhaling contaminated aerosols or from direct contact with infected animal tissue.
Where does Yersinia pestis grow?
pestis has two main habitats— in the stomach of proventriculus of various flea species at ambient temperature or in the blood or tissues of a rodent host at body temperature (Perry 19997 in Prentice and Rahalison 2007). Y. pestis has been recorded to naturally infect over 203 rodent species and 14 lagomorph species.
How does Yersinia pestis grow?
pestis grows as part of biofilm in the flea, flea-transmitted bacteria may have biofilm extracellular matrix (EM) components associated with them. These polysaccharides are similar in structure to EM of other pathogens that are known to have immunomodulatory properties (Vuong et al., 2004). Thus, Y.
What Agar does Yersinia pestis grow on?
Y. pestis will grow as small, non- lactose fermenting colonies on MAC or EMB agar .
Is there a cure for Yersinia pestis?
Aminoglycosides: streptomycin and gentamicin
Streptomycin is the most effective antibiotic against Y. pestis and the drug of choice for treatment of plague, particularly the pneumonic form (2-6).
Who is most at risk for Yersinia pestis?
Risk factors for plague include living in rural areas, near animals such as rodents, or in houses where sanitation is poor. People who deal frequently with animals, such as veterinaries , are at higher risk for infection with Yersinia pestis.
How did Black Death End?
The most popular theory of how the plague ended is through the implementation of quarantines . The uninfected would typically remain in their homes and only leave when it was necessary, while those who could afford to do so would leave the more densely populated areas and live in greater isolation.
What does Yersinia pestis do to the human body?
Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It can be a life-threatening infection if not treated promptly . Plague has caused several major epidemics in Europe and Asia over the last 2,000 years. Plague has most famously been called “the Black Death” because it can cause skin sores that form black scabs.
Can Yersinia come back?
Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis are bacterial infections that are uncommon, but can cause problems when they occur. Y enterocolitica causes a condition called enterocolitis, which is an inflammation of the small intestine and colon that occurs, and often recurs, mostly in young children.
Is Yersinia pestis harmful or helpful?
As Yersinia pestis can be easily obtained and cultured and is highly pathogenic for humans , it poses a serious threat of being used for bioterrorism purposes. Artificially created aerosol containing plague bacilli can cause numerous and almost simultaneous cases of primary pulmonic plague in an exposed population.
What color is gram negative bacteria?
Alternatively, Gram negative bacteria stain red , which is attributed to a thinner peptidoglycan wall, which does not retain the crystal violet during the decoloring process.
What is another name for Yersinia pestis?
bacillus Pasteurella pestis (now called Yersinia pestis; renamed after French bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin, who independently discovered the plague bacillus during the Hong Kong epidemic).
What kills bubonic plague?
Several classes of antibiotics are effective in treating bubonic plague. These include aminoglycosides such as streptomycin and gentamicin , tetracyclines (especially doxycycline), and the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin.
What is Black Death virus?
Bubonic plague is an infection spread mostly to humans by infected fleas that travel on rodents . Called the Black Death, it killed millions of Europeans during the Middle Ages. Prevention doesn’t include a vaccine, but does involve reducing your exposure to mice, rats, squirrels and other animals that may be infected.
Is yersinia the plague?
Plague is a disease that affects humans and other mammals. It is caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis . Humans usually get plague after being bitten by a rodent flea that is carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an animal infected with plague.
What are the 3 plagues?
Plague is divided into three main types — bubonic, septicemic and pneumonic — depending on which part of your body is involved. Signs and symptoms vary depending on the type of plague.
