Yersinia pes·tis (p s t s)n. A bacterium that causes plague and is transmitted from rats to humans by the rat flea Xenopsylla cheopis. Also called Pasteurella pestis. |
Yersinia pestis
Etymology: Alexandre E.J. Yersin; L, pestis, plague
a species of small gram-negative bacteria that causes plague. The primary host is the rat, but other small rodents also harbor the organism. A person without symptoms may be a carrier, but this happens rarely. Yersinia pestis is hardy, living for long periods in infected carcasses, the soil of the host's habitat, or sputum. Also called Pasteurella pestis. See also plague.
Yersinia
a genus of ovoid or rod-shaped, nonencapsulated, gram-negative bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae.
Yersinia enterocolitica
often carried by many animal species, especially pigs, and associated with sporadic diarrhea in humans and animals. Farmed deer are highly susceptible.
Yersinia pestis
causes bubonic plague in humans and sylvatic plague in rodents and cats.
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis
causes yersiniosis in laboratory animals, wild rodents and domestic species, including cattle, sheep and cats. See also pyemic hepatitis.
Yersinia ruckeri
causes enteric redmouth and salmonid blood spot disease especially of Atlantic salmon fry and parr.
Yersinia tularensis
see francisellatularensis.
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