eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Infectious Disease

Plague: Multimedia

Author: Vinod K Dhawan, MD, FACP, FRCP(C), Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles; Professor of Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science; Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, MLK-Harbor Hospital
Coauthor(s): Robert D Schremmer, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 24, 2008

Multimedia

Male <em>Xenopsylla cheopis</em> (oriental rat fl...
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Media file 1: Male Xenopsylla cheopis (oriental rat flea) engorged with blood. This flea is the primary vector of plague in most large plague epidemics in Asia, Africa, and South America. Both male and female fleas can transmit the infection. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Male <em>Xenopsylla cheopis</em> (oriental rat fl...

Male Xenopsylla cheopis (oriental rat flea) engorged with blood. This flea is the primary vector of plague in most large plague epidemics in Asia, Africa, and South America. Both male and female fleas can transmit the infection. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Wright stain peripheral blood smear of patient wi...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 2: Wright stain peripheral blood smear of patient with septicemic plague demonstrating bipolar, safety pin staining of Yersinia pestis. Although Wright stain often demonstrates this characteristic appearance, Giemsa and Wayson stains most consistently highlight this pattern. Courtesy of Jack Poland, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins, CO.
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Wright stain peripheral blood smear of patient wi...

Wright stain peripheral blood smear of patient with septicemic plague demonstrating bipolar, safety pin staining of Yersinia pestis. Although Wright stain often demonstrates this characteristic appearance, Giemsa and Wayson stains most consistently highlight this pattern. Courtesy of Jack Poland, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Fort Collins, CO.

Inguinal bubo on upper thigh of a person with bub...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 3: Inguinal bubo on upper thigh of a person with bubonic plague. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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Inguinal bubo on upper thigh of a person with bub...

Inguinal bubo on upper thigh of a person with bubonic plague. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

<em>Yersinia pestis</em> bacteria on fluorescent ...
(Enlarge Image)
Media file 4: Yersinia pestis bacteria on fluorescent antibody test. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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<em>Yersinia pestis</em> bacteria on fluorescent ...

Yersinia pestis bacteria on fluorescent antibody test. Image courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

More on Plague

Overview: Plague
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Plague
Treatment & Medication: Plague
Follow-up: Plague
Multimedia: Plague
References
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References

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  27. Tomaso H, Jacob D, Eickhoff M, et al. Preliminary validation of real-time PCR assays for the identification of Yersinia pestis. Clin Chem Lab Med. 2008;46(9):1239-44. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

plague, black death, black plague, bubonic plague, septicemic plague, pneumonic plague, ambulant plague, Yersinia pestis, bioterrorist agent, bioterrorism, bacteremia, pneumonia, septicemia, meningitis, polyarthritis, lung abscess, pharyngitis

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Vinod K Dhawan, MD, FACP, FRCP(C), Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of California at Los Angeles; Professor of Medicine, Charles R Drew University of Medicine and Science; Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases, MLK-Harbor Hospital
Vinod K Dhawan, MD, FACP, FRCP(C) is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc None None

Coauthor(s)

Robert D Schremmer, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; Attending Physician, Division of Emergency Medical Services, Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics
Robert D Schremmer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Ambulatory Pediatric Association and American Academy of Pediatrics
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

José Rafael Romero, MD, Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Combined Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Creighton University/University of Nebraska Medical Center
José Rafael Romero, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, New York Academy of Sciences, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Mary L Windle, PharmD, Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Pfizer Inc Stock Investment from broker recommendation; Avanir Pharma Stock Investment from broker recommendation

Managing Editor

Leslie L Barton, MD, Professor, Program Director, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona School of Medicine
Leslie L Barton, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of Pediatric Program Directors, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD, Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine
Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility
Disclosure: GlaxoSmithKline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; MedImmune Honoraria Consulting; MedImmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; sanofi pasteur Grant/research funds Unrestricted research grant; sanofi pasteur  Consulting; sanofi pasteur Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Tap Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD, Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine
Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association
Disclosure: None None None

 
 
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