Plague BT - Bacterial Infections of Humans: Epidemiology and Control

Abstract

Plague is a flea-transmitted infection of rodents caused by Yersinia pestis. Fleas incidentally transmit the infection to humans and other susceptible mammalian hosts. Percutaneous inoculation of the plague bacillus in humans typically initiates inflammation of lymph nodes draining the inoculation site, resulting in bubonic plague. Bloodstream invasion may lead to septicemic plague or to established infection of other organ systems such as the lung or the meninges. Spread of infection to the lungs may result in secondary pneumonic plague, which can then be transmitted from person to person via the respiratory route. Respiratory transmission may result in one or a few cases or, rarely, an epidemic of primary pneumonic plague.