Term
| What are different names for plague? |
|
Definition
Plague
Black death
Bubonic plague
Yersiniosis |
|
|
Term
| What is the name for the bacteria that causes plague? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What are some characteristics of Yersinia Pestis? |
|
Definition
Gram negative
Non-spore forming
small bacteria
clothes pin shaped |
|
|
Term
| What destroys yersinia pestis? What is the survival rate? |
|
Definition
It is destroyed by sunlight and desiccation.
Survives 1 hour in air, briefly in soil, 1 week in soft tissue, years when frozen |
|
|
Term
| Where is plague thought to have originated? |
|
Definition
| In Central Asia or Africa and spread to different continents through ships |
|
|
Term
| What are the three documented cases of old world plague? |
|
Definition
~Justinian plague
~Black death (europe)
~China (continues today) |
|
|
Term
| Who discovered the agent of plague? When? |
|
Definition
~Alexander Yersin in 1894
~Dr Kitasato discovered the bacteria but stained it wrong. |
|
|
Term
| How is plague maintained in every continent except australia and antarctica? |
|
Definition
| Through wild rodent populations in semiarid areas. |
|
|
Term
| If you're a wildlife biologist what area in the US should you be aware of? |
|
Definition
| The southwestern part because it has plague |
|
|
Term
| Where is the plague found in the US? |
|
Definition
| In the West but it is slowly moving to the east. |
|
|
Term
| What is the vector for plague? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| How is transmitted using the flea? |
|
Definition
| After a flea ingests blood from an infected animal, the bacteria replicate in the flea gut. The digestive tract is then blocked and affects swallowing. The flea then starves and tries to eat which results in regurgitation of the bacteria back into the host. |
|
|
Term
| Where was the first reported case of plague in north America? |
|
Definition
| In San Francisco in 1900s |
|
|
Term
| When plague first arrived in california, what other animal was effected? |
|
Definition
| California Ground Squirrels |
|
|
Term
| How is plague usually transmitted? |
|
Definition
| Through the bite of a flea, ingestion of infected carcasses, aerosol |
|
|
Term
| What are reservoir hosts in plague? |
|
Definition
~do not suffer 100% mortality from plague
~example:rats |
|
|
Term
| What are amplification rodent hosts? |
|
Definition
~These species have a high mortality and high population density
~example: ground squirrels |
|
|
Term
| What are Resistant Non-rodent plague hosts? |
|
Definition
Ungulates and rodent consuming carnivores
~example:felines |
|
|
Term
| What are susceptible non-rodent plague hosts? |
|
Definition
High morbidity and mortality when infected
~example: Man, domestic cats, wild cats, mountain lions. |
|
|
Term
| What are the clinical presentations for bubonic plague in man? |
|
Definition
~swelling- can rupture and drain
~cervical axillary lymph nodes are frequently affected |
|
|
Term
| How can plague be diagnosed? |
|
Definition
Gram staining lymph nodes
flourescent antibody tests
PCR (DNA) testing
Surveillance: examination of fleas collected in dens of rodents
-also examination of coyotes that are resistant but sampled for antibodies of bacteria. |
|
|
Term
| Are vaccines available for plague? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
| What is being used to keep prairie dogs from getting plague? |
|
Definition
Cotton balls treated with pyrethrins
insecticidal spraying of dens
Powder infused into dens |
|
|
Term
| What is needed for treatment of plague? |
|
Definition
| Rapid diagnosis, antibiotic therapy and if untreated, very high mortality rate (50 for bubonic, 100 for pneumonic and septicemia) |
|
|
Term
| What is a sentinel species for plague? |
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| By capturing fleas, mouse inoculation, prairie dog colony studies |
|
|
