Research Paper on the Plague Yersinia Pestis

Introduction

The plague is caused by bacteria known as Yersinia Pestis. The bacteria cause a life-threatening infection if one does not receive medical attention promptly. Over the last two thousand years, the plague has been responsible for major epidermis in Asia and Europe. The plague causes the skin sores to form black scabs, and therefore it is called the Black Death. In Europe, Yersinia Pestis plague wiped out more than one-third of the population in the fourteenth century. In some cities in Europe, 75% of the entire population was killed by the plague epidemic of swollen skin sores and fever. In the whole world, the World Health Organization has reported up to three thousand cases of plague yearly. The cases mostly occur in less developed countries, for instance, Africa, South Sudan, and Asia (Galimand, Elisabeth & Patrice, p. 3234).

Cause

Primarily, the plague is an infection of animals which include the species of rodents for instance rats, mice, prairie dogs, rabbits, ground squirrels, and chipmunks. In the U.S the plague is mostly transmitted to human beings by an infected rat flea (Xenopsylla species) bite. The people who live in areas where these rodents are plentiful are at a high risk of getting infected with the plague disease, and the most affected are hunters and veterinarians. The following are other ways in which humans can become infected;

One becomes infected if Yersinia Pestis bacteria go into the body through a break in the skin after a direct contact with blood or meat of an infected animal for instance when a hunter is skinning a carcass. If one is bitten or scratched by infected cats because the bacteria is transmitted from the animal to the individual through the bloodstream (Jarrett, P. 780).

Pneumonic plague is caused by breathing in droplets of Yersinia Pestis bacteria when one is in close contact with a lung plague infection either an animal or human.

Symptoms

Yersinia Pestis plague occurs in three different forms, but the most common ones are the Bubonic, pneumonic and Septicemic. The most common one is the Bubonic plague with almost 80% of cases of plague. It forms painful red buboes which are swollen lymph nodes that form quickly near the area where the flea bites. When the flea bites the neck, the buboes may appear on the arm. After two to six days the infected person develops chills, headache, more buboes, high fever and muscle aches.

Septicemic plague is developed when Yersinia Pestis bacteria spread through the bloodstream causing Septicemia which is a blood infection. If a person gets into direct contact with an infected animal meat or blood the bacteria of Yersinia Pestis gets into the bloodstream of an individual causing Septicemia plague. The first symptoms include nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. As the days go by the infected person may develop severe bleeding problems, scattered bruises, and blood in urine. Abnormal bleeding may occur under the skin, mouth, rectum, and nose. The bleeding can cause severe shocks due to rapid pulse, blood pressure, and unconsciousness. They may also lead to kidney failure, breathing difficulties which may lead to death. If well-treated one may 70% survive (Jarrett, P. 781)

Pneumonic plague is a rare kind of infection and only develops when the bacteria of Yersinia Pestis infects the lungs causing pneumonia which occurs if a person breaths droplets of a person or animal who is infected in the lungs. Symptoms include a severe headache, chills, high fever, rapid breathing and chest pain. One may suffer from nose bleeding due to a continuous cough and lack of breath. This plague may lead to death quickly if not treated.

Prevention

People who work or reside in a region with high rodent population can prevent the plague infection by avoiding physical contact with dead or sick rodents. Avoid physical contact with the burrows and nets of chipmunks, rodents, and squirrels. People may also use veterinarian-approved flea collars and other repellents on dogs and cats. They must wear gloves when handling suspected infected sick animals.

Treatment

A sick person suspected to be suffering from plague need to be taken to a hospital to receive medical care. In the hospital, staff should wear protective clothing to avoid getting infected with the dangerous infection. The infected person should also be separated from other patients to avoid the spread of diseases. The infected person is treated using antibiotics in to the vain if they are diagnosed with the disease (Hinnebusch, P. 200) If the person is having breathing difficulties and severe bleeding problems, then he or she can be taken to intensive care. Painkillers should also be administered to revive the pain that the infected person. 90% of the patients suffering from bubonic plague are treated using antibiotics, and they survive while 70% of people infected with Septicemic plague survive with the proper administration of antibiotics.

References

Galimand, Marc, Elisabeth Carniel, and Patrice Courvalin. "Resistance of Yersinia pestis to antimicrobial agents." Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 50.10 (2006): 3233-3236.

Jarrett, Clayton O., et al. "Transmission of Yersinia pestis from an infectious biofilm in the flea vector." Journal of Infectious Diseases 190.4 (2004): 782-792.

Hinnebusch, B. Joseph. "The evolution of flea-borne transmission in Yersinia pestis." Current issues in molecular biology 7.2 (2005): 197-212.

https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/plague-yersinia-pestis