Definition (NCI) A Gram-negative bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis. It is usually transmitted to humans from bites of infected rodent fleas. It is manifested as a bubonic, septicemic, or pneumonic plague. In bubonic plague, the lymph nodes adjacent to the site of the skin bite are infected and enlarged. In septicemic plague, the infection spreads directly through the bloodstream. In pneumonic plague, the infection spreads to the lungs either following bubonic plague, or by inhalation of infective droplets. If untreated, it may lead to death.
Definition (MSH) An acute infectious disease caused by YERSINIA PESTIS that affects humans, wild rodents, and their ectoparasites. This condition persists due to its firm entrenchment in sylvatic rodent-flea ecosystems throughout the world. Bubonic plague is the most common form.
Definition (CSP) acute infectious disease caused by Yersinia pestis that affects humans, wild rodents, and their ectoparasites; bubonic plague is the most common form.
Definition (NCI) A species of facultatively anaerobic, Gram negative, rod shaped bacteria in the phylum Proteobacteria. This species is motile, positive for coagulase and fibrinolysin and negative for urease, indole, ornithine decarboxylase, oxidase, and pyrazinamidase. Some strains are able to ferment melibiose but none can metabolize sorbose, rhamnose, cellobiose, sucrose, or sorbitol. Y. pestis is found in rodents and fleas and is a pathogen that can cause pneumonic, septicemic and bubonic plague types in humans.
Definition (NCI_CDISC) Any bacterial organism that can be assigned to the species Yersinia pestis.
Definition (CSP) etiologic agent of plague in humans, rats, ground squirrels, and other rodents.
Definition (MSH) The etiologic agent of PLAGUE in man, rats, ground squirrels, and other rodents.