First Case Report of Human Plague Caused by Excavation, Skinning, and Eating of a Hibernating Marmot (Marmota himalayana)
Jinxiao XiRan DuanZhaokai HeLei MengDaqin XuYuhuang ChenJunrong LiangGuoming FuLi WangHua ChunShuai QinDongyue LvHui MuDeming TangWeiwei WuMeng XiaoHuaiqi JingXin Wang
7
Citation
15
Reference
10
Related Paper
Citation Trend
Abstract:
Introduction The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is considered the most plague-heavy region in China, and skinning and eating marmots ( Marmota himalayana ) are understood to be the main exposure factors to plague. Yersinia pestis is relatively inactive during marmots' hibernation period. However, this case report shows plague infection risk is not reduced but rather increased during the marmot hibernation period if plague exposure is not brought under control. Case Presentation The patient was a 45-year-old man who presented with high fever, swelling of axillary lymph nodes, and existing hand wounds on his right side. Y. pestis was isolated from his blood and lymphatic fluid. Hence, the patient was diagnosed with a confirmed case of bubonic plague. Later, his condition progressed to septicemic plague. Plague exposure through wounds and delays in appropriate treatment might have contributed to plague progression. Conclusion This case report reveals that excavating a hibernating marmot is a significant transmission route of plague. Plague prevention and control measures are priority needs during the marmot hibernation period.Keywords:
plague
Marmot
Yersinia pestis
Hibernation
Yersinia pestis, the Gram-negative bacterial agent of plague, is a zoonotic pathogen that primarily infects wild rodents and is transmitted by fleas. Y. pestis is one of the most invasive and virulent bacterial pathogens and has caused devastating pandemics, including the Black Death of 14th century Europe. The last plague pandemic began in Asia in the last half of the 19th century and lingered well into the 20th century, causing tens of millions of deaths as it spread across the world.
plague
Yersinia pestis
Pandemic
Cite
Citations (7)
Plague is caused by Yersinia pestis and is not commonly encountered in clinics, although natural plague foci are widely distributed around the world. Y. pestis has been listed as a category A bioterrorism agent. A neglected diagnosis will cause severe consequences. Therefore, this minireview briefly introduces the current understanding on Y. pestis and then focuses on practical aspects of plague, including clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, to alert clinicians about this notorious disease.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Cite
Citations (86)
Yersinia pestis is the cause of plague, an illness that may manifest in bubonic, pneumonic, or septicemic form. Plague has killed an estimated 200 million humans throughout history, and plague is endemic in many areas of the world. Approximately 2,000 cases of plague are reported each year to the World Health Organization, and concern has been raised about the possible use of Y pestis as an agent of bioterrorism. The genome of Y pestis has been sequenced, including the 3 virulence plasmids, pPst, pLcr, and pFra, and advances have been made in understanding the bacterial pathogenesis of Y pestis infection. Advances also have been made in rapid diagnosis, the understanding of immune responses during plague, and vaccine development.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Yersiniosis
Cite
Citations (52)
OBJECTIVE To explore the plague epidemical trend of the nearly 5 years in Qinghai province to provide basis for making the prevention and control measures.METHODS The materials of the human plague,plague monitoring and the plague foci survey in Qinghai from 2006 to 2010 were analyzed with the Excel software.RESULTS 57 strains of Yersinia pestis were isolated from the infected animals and insects in Qinghai from the recent 5 years.The Yersinia pestis was mainly distributed in Wulan,Tianjun,Ge'ermu,with a total of 39 strains,which were along the Qinghai-Xinzang railway.Another 12 strains were distributed in Yushu,Zhiduo and Chenduo.The rest 6 strains were distributed in Xinhai.Human plague was occurred every year from 2006 to 2010.In the 5 years,there were 13 plague cases and 3 of these cases died,the mortality was 23.07%.CONCLUSION The plague epidemic situation in Qinghai province is still severe,the animal plague occurs yearly,the human plague outbreaks occasionally.So as to reduce the plague occurrence,the plague monitoring and early warning in the key areas should be strengthened,and the comprehensive measures for plague prevention and control should be carried out.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Yersiniosis
Cite
Citations (0)
Yersinia pestis
plague
Bacteremia
Xenopsylla
Yersiniosis
Cite
Citations (15)
Yersinia pestis is the aetiological agent of plague, a disease that has a place in history as one the major causes of death from the 14th to the 17th Centuries1. It is estimated that, during the Black Death pandemic, approximately 30% of the population of Europe died of plague, and so great in number were the corpses that, in many parts of Europe, the dead were placed in burial pits rather than receiving individual burials. Y. pestis has also been responsible for two other pandemics of disease. The first of these, the Justinian plague, occurred during the 1st Century. The third pandemic occurred during the latter part of the 19th Century and was confined mainly to South-East Asia1. Even today, several thousand cases of plague are reported to the World Health Organization each year, mainly from South-East Asia, the southwestern parts of the USA, Madagascar and Africa.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Pandemic
Epidemic disease
Cite
Citations (0)
Abstract Yersinia pestis DNA was recently detected in human remains from 2 ancient plague pandemics in France and Germany. We have now sequenced Y. pestis glpD gene in such remains, showing a 93-bp deletion specific for biotype Orientalis. These data show that only Orientalis type caused the 3 plague pandemics.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Pandemic
Yersiniosis
Ancient DNA
Cite
Citations (131)
Yersinia pestis is the bacteria that causes plague, one of the deadliest diseases in human history. Three major plague pandemics (the Justinian Plague, the Black Death and the Modern Plague) have been recorded. Each caused massive fatalities and has become defining events in the time periods in places that were affected. The presence of natural plague foci in rodents across the world is one of the risk factors for human plague. While plague is a relatively rare problem for most countries, more than 90% of plague cases in the world still occur in Africa. This article discusses the threat of Yersinia pestis in the modern world by considering its prevalence and severity of illness it causes, transmission, antibiotic resistance, and its potential as a bioweapon.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Pandemic
Yersiniosis
Cite
Citations (37)
Objective To evaluate the results in implementation of the strategy for dealing with the plague at late stage in endemic areas of Guangxi Autonomous Region. Methods The Results of surveillance and treatment of plague in Guangxi in 2000～2003 were analyzed and assessed. Results In the last 4 years the number of plague cases in this Region was dropped from 42 in 2000 to 0 in 20003 and the detective rate of Yersinia pestis reduced from 0.19% in 2000 to 0 in 2003 and the positive rate of F1antibody against Yersinia pestis reduced from 0.38% in 2000 to 0.01% in 2003. Conclusion The strategy in management of plague implemented at late stage is markedly effective for control of plague and it is worthy of popularization in other endemic areas.
Yersinia pestis
plague
Cite
Citations (0)
Yersinia pestis
plague
Animal ecology
Cite
Citations (48)