Definition:
Yersinia pestis otherwise known as the Pasteurella pestis is a gram-negative facultative and anaerobic bipolar staining that makes it look as a safety pin bacteria which belongs to the family of Enterobacteriaceae (Collins FM (1996). Pasteurella, Yersinia, and Francisella. In: Baron's Medical Microbiology (Baron S et al, eds.), 4th ed., Univ of Texas Medical Branch). Yersinia Pestive have three distinct forms namely: the bubonic, the pneumonic, and the septicemic plague.
Diagnosis:
It is generally diagnosed through the presence of the gram negative rods usually those appear to have double curved shaped. Anti-F1 Serology Tests are also used to confirm the disease.
Treatment:
Treatment includes the adminsitration of streptomycin,the use of chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and fluoroquinolones. Doxycycline or gentamicin are also advised.
Symptoms and Signs:
The symptoms of Yersinia pestis depends on what form a person is affected. Thus, it is is by Bubonic plague, the symptoms includes occurrence of swelling lymph nodes, restlessness and lacks of energy, fever, headache and chill. Septicemic Plague upon the other hand manifest through the occurrence of hypotension, hepatosplenomegaly, delirium, shock and seizures while the Pneumonic Plague's sign are fever, chills, chest pain, dyspnea, hemoptysis, lethargy and hypotension.
Causes:
It is said to be caused by several species of rodents. Marmots are reservoir species in the steppes.
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