The Plague
a little bit o’ history… aka- The Black Death 14 century Europe Killed 1/3 of population
a nursery rhyme? Ring around the rosies -> symptomatic red patches on the skin Pocket full of posies -> people would carry roses in their pockets in attempts to ward off the disease Ashes, Ashes -> burn the dead bodies We all fall down -> 1/3 of the population dead
so what caused the Plague? i’m glad you asked! Yersinia pestis – Gram negative bacteria – Rod shaped – Facultative anaerobe
and how does one get this? Transmitted directly by flea bites warfare/plague_files/image001.jpg
so how is it so deadly?
virulence factors aye? Virulence factors are located on multiple plasmids – Yops – F1
so how do i know if i have it? Symptoms develop abruptly in 1-6 days Sudden: – High fever – Patchy bleeding (rash) under the skin [DIC] – Large lymph nodes – DIC – Bloody sputum – shock
is this treatable? In 14c Europe: NOPE But today… – Tetracycline within hours of fever onset – Vaccine Rat control
so does the plague still exist?
References MICROBIOLOGY: A Human Perspective, sixth edition. Nester