Compare and Contrast Plague

Question 1

Bacteria: Yersinia pestis

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 1

All 3

Question 2

Shape: Bacillus w/ Bipolar Staining (Looks like Safety Pin)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 2

All 3

Question 3

Gram Reaction: Gram Negative (G-)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 3

All 3

Question 4

Virulence Factors: Reproduce in Macrophages

Forms Capsule Intracellularly at 37°C (i.e. Human Body Temperature)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 4

All 3

Question 5

Incubation Time: 1-8 Days, depending on the form patient has

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 5

All 3

Question 6

Prevalence: Most Common

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 6

Bubonic Plague

Question 7

Prevalence: Less Common

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 7

Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague

Question 8

Key Targets: Lymph Nodes

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 8

Bubonic Plague

Question 9

Key Targets:Internal Organs, Blood Vessels

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 9

Septicemic Plague

Question 10

Key Targets:Lungs

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 10

Pneumonic Plague

Question 11

Death Rate:
75-100% (Untreated)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 11

Septicemic Plague

Question 12

Death Rate:
100% (Untreated)
5-17% (Treated)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 12

Pneumonic Plague

Question 13

Death Rate:
50-60% (Untreated)
VERY Treatable

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 13

Bubonic Plague

Question 14

Vaccine? Yes, but only in Vietnam
Made of Dead Whole Bacteria
Not Very Effective: Immunity generated is questionable

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 14

All 3

Question 15

Immunity After Infection?
Exists but Not Permanent
Reinfection is Possible

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 15

All 3

Question 16

Treatment?
For best results, MUST start within 24 hours of exposure

Streptomycin (Injected)
Cipro/Tetracycline (Oral)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 16

All 3

Question 17

Use for Biowarfare / Bioterrorism?
Potentially Useful

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 17

Septicemic Plague

Question 18

Use for Biowarfare / Bioterrorism?
Most Useful (Aerosol release of the bacteria)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 18

Pneumonic Plague

Question 19

Use for Biowarfare / Bioterrorism?
Potentially Useful (Japan dropped infected fleas into China during WWII successfully  infecting over 10,000 Chinese

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 19

Bubonic Plague

Question 20

Transmission: Mainly: Infected Flea Bite

Bacteria Comes from Infected Rodents (and, rarely, infected Cats)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 20

Bubonic Plague

Question 21

Transmission: Moves via Bloodstream
In young children, this form might be first to exhibit

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 21

Septicemic Plague

Follows Bubonic Plague

Question 22

Transmission: Respiratory Droplets (From Rodent or Another Human)

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague, All 3 or None

Answer 22

Pneumonic Plague

Follows Bubonic & Septicemic Plague

Question 23

What are the 3 forms of Plague?

Answer 23

Bubonic Plague, Septicemic Plague, Pneumonic Plague