MT2 > Disease: Historical Examples Flashcards
Who wrote the historical account of the plague of Athens? When?
Thucydides in ~430 BCE, then later Lucretius in ~100 BCE.
When was the Justinian plague? Who recorded this outbreak?
AD 542, recounted by Procopius.
When was the Black Death spreading through Europe? In what historical work was the incidence of this disease recorded? By who?
AD 1348, recorded in Decameron by Boccacio.
How has infectious disease shaped human history? Give a few examples.
Domestication of animals and urbanization led to increased disease infection, resulting in development of immunity.
Around what time did the Herpes virus begin to appear in human populations?
~1-2 million years ago.
When did smallpox first appear in humans? How?
~5000-10000 years ago smallpox jumped from camels to humans.
What historical development allowed the continuous transmission of measles and mumps? When did this begin?
Establishment of city states with increased population density ~5000 years ago.
Who first described the difference between measles and smallpox? What might this definition have formed the basis of?
Razes differentiated the two. His description of treatments may have been the basis for smallpox inoculation.
What two countries introduced smallpox inoculation in the 18th century?
England and China.
What is James Jurin responsible for re: smallpox?
Provided the basis for epidemiology through his study of smallpox inoculation.
What issues did D’Alembert have with smallpox inoculation?
Raised ethical problems associated with a purely mathematical evaluation of risk.
When did Jenner make his inoculation discovery? For what?
Tested the cowpox inoculation against smallpox in 1796.
What is the Canadian scientist d’Herelle known for discovering?
The bacteriophage.
When were the first eukaryotic cell cultures developed?
1948-1950.
When was the first antibiotic discovered? What was it? Who discovered it?
In 1928 Fleming discovered penicillin.
When was the last case of smallpox documented?
1980.
Where did the disease which caused the plague of Athens likely originate?
In Northern Africa (Ethiopia).
What were some of the early symptoms of those suffering in the plague of Athens? What about late symptoms?
Early: headache, redness/inflammation, chest pain, cough
Late: spasms, pustules, thirst, ulcers, death
What did Thucydides mention regarding the recurrence of disease in sufferers of the plague of Athens?
That survivors developed a natural immunity and never caught the disease again.
What concept did Thucydides connect to the transmission of the plague of Athens?
Population density likely had a role.
What did Thucydides remark about animals which came into contact with those suffering from the plague of Athens?
Animals either avoided the bodies or died after tasting corpses.
What did molecular diagnosis determine was the cause of the plague of Athens? How?
Typhoid fever was diagnosed by using PCR on tooth pulp.
What plague biovar caused the Black Death in Europe in 1348?
Y. pestis biovar medievalis.
What plague biovar caused the Justinian plague of AD 542?
Y. pestis biovar antiqua.
What plague biovar caused the most recent pandemic in 19th century China?
Y. pestis biovar orientalis.
