[Yersinia pestis and plague - an update]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Plague is a severe, systemic bacterial infection caused by Yersinia pestis.
• It has a high case fatality rate without prompt antibacterial therapy, ranging from 40% to nearly 100%.
• Yersinia pestis circulates in rodent populations and can be transmitted to humans via flea bites or other routes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an overview of the plague disease, its causative agent, transmission, and current management strategies.
• To highlight the ongoing relevance of plague, particularly in certain African regions.
• To discuss available and developing treatments and vaccines for plague.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of plague epidemiology, microbiology, and clinical management.
• Analysis of Yersinia pestis transmission dynamics.
• Summary of current therapeutic options and vaccine development.

Main Results:

• Yersinia pestis is a gram-negative bacterium responsible for plague.
• Transmission occurs through vectors (fleas) and non-vectorial routes, with human-to-human spread via aerosols.
• Despite being rare globally, plague outbreaks persist in specific African regions.

Conclusions:

• Streptomycin remains the primary treatment for plague, with other antibiotics like doxycycline and ciprofloxacin also effective.
• Recombinant vaccines are under clinical development, offering future prevention strategies.
• Continued surveillance and prompt treatment are crucial for managing plague outbreaks.