Yersinia the Pest Dr. Lorna Pezman is a senior microbiologist working for the World Health Organization (WHO). Her supervisor called one morning with urgent news of a pneumonic plague outbreak, and a flight was booked for later that afternoon. By the time Dr. Pezman landed in Madagascar (an island in East Africa), 452 confirmed Yersinia pestis cases had been identified and 39 people had already died. Plague is endemic to this region; however, it does not typically spread so quickly or kill so many people. Part 1 (1 point) Why is pneumonic plague of more concern to the WHO than bubonic plague? Choose one: A. Pneumonic plague is not susceptible to antibiotic treatment. B. Bubonic plague occurs only from the bite of the flea carrying Yersinia pestis, whereas pneumonic plague can be spread from person to person. C. The incubation period for pneumonic plague (1 day) is significantly less than for bubonic plague (30 days). D. Pneumonic plague usually occurs in people who are immunosuppressed. Part 2 (1 point) In the Middle Ages, victims of the Black Death (plague caused by Yersinia pestis) were flung over castle walls with catapults in an attempt to spread disease. Which of the following are characteristics of an effective bioweapon that could be used in the twenty-first century? Choose one or more: A. person-to-person transmission B. zoonotic C. no vaccine available D. low infectious dose
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Which statement about Yersinia pestis is true? A) It produces all virulence factors both in flea and mammalian hosts. B) A vaccine against this infection is available. C) It is an extracellular pathogen. D) The bacterium can form biofilms in the flea digestive system. It was responsible for the "black death" in Europe during the 1300s. Which of these statements concerning poliomyelitis is false? A) The sensory nerves are usually involved. B) It can be caused by polioviruses. C) Only a small fraction of those infected will develop the disease. D) The disease is transmitted via the fecal-oral route. E) A post-polio syndrome can develop years after recovery from the original illness. Which of the following about bacterial cystitis is false? A) About one-third of all women will have it at some time during their life. B) Catheterization of the bladder markedly increases the risk of contracting the disease. C) Individuals who have a bladder catheter in place indefinitely risk bladder infections with multiple species of intestinal bacteria at the same time. D) Bladder infections occur as often in men as they do in women. E) Bladder infections can be asymptomatic. Which one of these statements about chlamydial genital infections is false? A) The 2nd most common STIs in the US after gonorrhea. B) Infected cells develop inclusion bodies. C) Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) can lead to infertility. D) Tissue damage largely results from cell-mediated immunity. E) Fallopian tube damage can occur in the absence of symptoms. Which description of syphilis is false? A) It is caused by a spirochete bacterium called Treponema pallidum. B) Secondary syphilis patients often have a rash on palms and upper body. C) Tertiary syphilis shows Gummas (skin ulcers). D) It causes primary to tertiary diseases and can also cause a latent infection. Which of the following statements about HIV/AIDS is false? A) HIV is transmitted by body fluids such as blood and semen. B) Antiretroviral medications cannot cure AIDS. C) Unusual cancers and infections indicate the start of AIDS. D) HIV can be transmitted transplacentally to a fetus. E) HIV infects white blood cells, destroying the immune system. Which of the following descriptions about microbial meningitis is false? A) Viral meningitis is usually milder and leaves few, if any, permanent effects compared to bacterial meningitis. B) Viral meningitis usually presents only a modest number of cells in the cerebrospinal fluid that is less cloudy compared to bacterial meningitis. C) The glucose level in the spinal fluid is not severely depressed in viral meningitis. D) Bacterial meningitis can be fatal, but antibiotics are available for treatment. E) No eukaryotic microbes can cause central nervous system infections because they are large and cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.
Sri K.
On September 6, a 6-year-old boy experienced fever, chills, and vomiting. On September 7, he was hospitalized with diarrhea and swollen lymph nodes under both arms. On September 3, the boy had been scratched and bitten by a cat. The cat was found dead on September 5, and Yersinia pestis was isolated from the cat. Chloramphenicol was administered to the boy from September 7, when Y. pestis was isolated from him. On September 17, the boy's temperature returned to normal, and on September 22, he was released from the hospital. a. Identify the incubation period in this case of bubonic plague. b. Identify the period of invasion in this case of bubonic plague. c. Identify the period of convalescence in this case of bubonic plague. 2. A Maryland woman was hospitalized with dehydration; Vibrio cholerae and Plesiomonas shigelloides were isolated from the patient. She had neither traveled outside the United States nor eaten raw shellfish during the preceding month. She had attended a party 2 days before her hospitalization. Two other people at the party had an acute diarrheal illness and elevated levels of serum antibodies against Vibrio. Everyone at the party ate crabs and rice pudding with coconut milk. Crabs leftover from this party were served at a second party. One of the 20 people at the second party had onset of mild diarrhea; specimens from 14 of these people were negative for vibriocidal antibodies. a. What is the mode of transmission of this disease?
About the Yersinia pestis: *Pathogenesis: please describe 1 virulence factor and what it does? *Identify one antibiotic that is used to treat this pathogen and include the mechanism of action / why it is effective for Yersinia pestis and not harmful to the host.
Farhan A.
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