Who does Yersinia pestis target?

Who does Yersinia pestis target?

Y. pestis targets alveolar macrophages and neutrophils early during primary pneumonic plague. The ability of Y. pestis to create a localized protective environment in the lungs early during pneumonic plague suggests that it deactivates host innate immune responses [7].

What are the most common victims of Yersinia pestis?

The plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, is transmitted to humans through the bites of fleas that have previously fed on infected animals, such as:

• Rats.
• Mice.
• Squirrels.
• Rabbits.
• Prairie dogs.
• Chipmunks.
• Voles.

Why is Yersinia pestis a bioterrorism agent?

A bioweapon carrying Y. pestis is possible because the bacterium is available and could be isolated and grown in quantity in a laboratory. Even so, manufacturing an effective weapon using Y. pestis would require advanced knowledge and technology.

Is Yersinia pestis biological weapon?

Plague as a Biological Weapon Y. pestis was developed as an aerosol weapon by several countries in the past. Aerosol dissemination of bacteria would cause primary pneumonic plague in the exposed population, an otherwise uncommon, highly lethal, and contagious form of plague.

What does Yersinia pestis do to the human body?

People who have bubonic or septicemic plague can also develop Y. pestis infection in the lungs. Symptoms include high fever, chills, headaches, chest pain, rapid breathing, severe shortness of breath and cough that might bring up blood. Without proper treatment, the disease can quickly lead to death.

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).

What is the incubation period for the Black Death?

What is the incubation period for plague? A person usually becomes ill with bubonic plague 2 to 6 days after being infected. Someone exposed to Yersinia pestis through the air would become ill within 1 to 3 days. When bubonic plague is left untreated, plague bacteria can invade the bloodstream.

Is Yersinia pestis harmful to humans?

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.

Who or what does the Yersinia pestis usually infect?

Y. pestis primarily infects small ground-dwelling mammals, specifically of the taxonomic order Rodentia, but maintains high spillover potential to other vertebrates, including humans, caused by its high virulence and fleaborne transmission.

What is the way to prevent Yersinia pestis?

Yersinia pestis prevention Reduce rodent habitat around your home, work place, and recreational areas. Wear gloves if you are handling or skinning potentially infected animals to prevent contact between your skin and the plague bacteria. Use repellent if you think you could be exposed to rodent fleas during activities such as camping, hiking, or working outdoors.

How do you get Yersinia pestis?

Yersinia pestis causes plague and people usually get it from being bitten by a rodent flea that is a carrier or by handling an infected animal.

What are the symptoms of Yersinia pestis?

Bubonic plague is the most common primary manifestation of Yersinia pestis infection with patients developing sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes (called buboes ). A bubo usually occurs in the groin, armpit or cervical lymph nodes.