‫بسم اهلل الرحمن الرحيم‬

GENUS: YERSINIA
Prof. Khalifa Sifaw Ghenghesh
 Yersinia pestis
 Plague
 Infected Fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis)
are the Major Mechanism of
Transmission.

 Rodents >>
 Clinical Syndromes

i. Bubonic Plague:
 Incubation period:
– < 7 days after flea bite.
 High fever and painful bubo in the groin and
axilla.
 Untreated Bacteremia > 75% mortality
rate
ii. Pneumonic Plague:
 Bubonic Disease >Pneumonic Plague >
Exhales the Organism in Droplets.

 Highly infectious
 Incubation period:
– 2 to 3 days, with fever and malaise
– pulmonary signs within one day
 Untreated > 90% mortality rate
 Yersinia pestis
Puss from bubo/Gram-negative rods
 LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS

 Aspirate from Buboes,

 Pus from the Area of Flea Bite,
 Sputum, Throat Swab or Blood.

 Transport Media >>

Yersinia pestis on Sheep Blood Agar (72hrs)
TREATMENT
– Streptomycin

CONTROL
–A Quarantinable Disease.
– Control of Urban Plague:
– Garbage Disposal.
 Y. enterocolitica
 Y. pseudotuberculosis

– Enterocolitis:
 Diarrhea, fever and abdominal pain
 Infection can mimic acute appendicitis
 More common in children

– Other infections:
 Septicemia,arthritis, hepatitis, and
osteomyelitis

– Epidemic outbreaks due to Y. enterocolitica:

 Contaminated meat and milk