Plague

Question 1

What are the causative organism(s) for plague?

Answer 1

Yersinia pestis

Question 2

What form of Plague is Yersinia pestis?

Answer 2

Bacterial, gram-negative

Question 3

What are the most common modes of transmission for Yesinia pestis (Plague)?

Answer 3

Biological vector (flea), also droplet contact (pneumoniae) and direct contact with body fluids

Question 4

What are the virulence factors for Yesinia pestis (Plague)?

Answer 4

Capsule, plasminogen activator

Question 5

How do you culture/diagnose Yersina pestis (Plague)?

Answer 5

Flea and/or animal control; vaccine available for high-risk individuals

Question 6

How do you treat Yersinia pestis (Plague)?

Answer 6

Streptomycin or gentamicin

Question 7

What are the epidemiological features of Yesinia pestis (Plague)?

Answer 7

United States: endemic in all western and southwestern states; internationally, 95% of human cases occur in Africa, including Madagascar