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Proceedings of the National Academy of... Apr 2019
Topics: Animals; Camelus; Insect Vectors; Phthiraptera; Plague; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 30948636
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1901145116 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Aug 2020Yersinia pestis, the bacterial causative agent of plague, remains an important threat to human health. Plague is a rodent-borne disease that has historically shown an... (Review)
Review
Yersinia pestis, the bacterial causative agent of plague, remains an important threat to human health. Plague is a rodent-borne disease that has historically shown an outstanding ability to colonize and persist across different species, habitats, and environments while provoking sporadic cases, outbreaks, and deadly global epidemics among humans. Between September and November 2017, an outbreak of urban pneumonic plague was declared in Madagascar, which refocused the attention of the scientific community on this ancient human scourge. Given recent trends and plague's resilience to control in the wild, its high fatality rate in humans without early treatment, and its capacity to disrupt social and healthcare systems, human plague should be considered as a neglected threat. A workshop was held in Paris in July 2018 to review current knowledge about plague and to identify the scientific research priorities to eradicate plague as a human threat. It was concluded that an urgent commitment is needed to develop and fund a strong research agenda aiming to fill the current knowledge gaps structured around 4 main axes: (i) an improved understanding of the ecological interactions among the reservoir, vector, pathogen, and environment; (ii) human and societal responses; (iii) improved diagnostic tools and case management; and (iv) vaccine development. These axes should be cross-cutting, translational, and focused on delivering context-specific strategies. Results of this research should feed a global control and prevention strategy within a "One Health" approach.
Topics: Animals; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Reservoirs; Humans; Insect Vectors; Madagascar; Neglected Diseases; Plague; Rodentia; Siphonaptera; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 32853251
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0008251 -
Clinical Microbiology and Infection :... Nov 2016Plague, a deadly zoonose caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has been firmly documented in 39 historical burial sites in Eurasia that date from the Bronze Age to... (Review)
Review
Plague, a deadly zoonose caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, has been firmly documented in 39 historical burial sites in Eurasia that date from the Bronze Age to two historical pandemics spanning the 6th to 18th centuries. Palaeomicrobiologic data, including gene and spacer sequences, whole genome sequences and protein data, confirmed that two historical pandemics swept over Europe from probable Asian sources and possible two-way-ticket journeys back from Europe to Asia. These investigations made it possible to address questions regarding the potential sources and routes of transmission by completing the standard rodent and rodent-flea transmission scheme. This suggested that plague was transmissible by human ectoparasites such as lice, and that Y. pestis was able to persist for months in the soil, which is a source of reinfection for burrowing mammals. The analyses of seven complete genome sequences from the Bronze Age indicated that Y. pestis was probably not an ectoparasite-borne pathogen in these populations. Further analyses of 14 genomes indicated that the Justinian pandemic strains may have formed a clade distinct from the one responsible for the second pandemic, spanning in Y. pestis branch 1, which also comprises the third pandemic strains. Further palaeomicrobiologic studies must tightly connect with historical and anthropologic studies to resolve questions regarding the actual sources of plague in ancient populations, alternative routes of transmission and resistance traits. Answering these questions will broaden our understanding of plague epidemiology so we may better face the actuality of this deadly infection in countries where it remains epidemic.
Topics: Asia; DNA; Europe; Evolution, Molecular; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, Medieval; Humans; Paleography; Pandemics; Plague; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 27615720
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.08.031 -
The Ulster Medical Journal Sep 2022Humankind has lived with the danger of endemic, epidemic and pandemic disease for thousands of years. The effects of these outbreaks have often devastated human...
Humankind has lived with the danger of endemic, epidemic and pandemic disease for thousands of years. The effects of these outbreaks have often devastated human populations. Sixteen pandemic events causing an estimated 147 million deaths have occurred since the eighth century, The Black Death and the influenza pandemic of 1918-1920 probably having the greatest impact. Animal populations, both wild and domestic, have similarly suffered devastating outbreaks of disease which, on occasions, have translated into serious effects on human health. The deliberate or accidental introduction of animals into virgin areas has given rise to unforeseen disease events occasionally leading to extinction. Similarly, human intent or negligence and the vagaries of nature itself has resulted in ill health and loss of life. This paper describes the history of pandemics, epidemics and disasters, and the attempts to bring them under control.
Topics: Humans; Plague
PubMed: 36474849
DOI: No ID Found -
Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2015Beside dogs and cats, the most common pets worldwide, an increasing number of pocket pets and exotic pets are making their way to more and more households, especially in... (Review)
Review
Beside dogs and cats, the most common pets worldwide, an increasing number of pocket pets and exotic pets are making their way to more and more households, especially in North America and Europe. Although many of these animals make appropriate pets, they also can be a source of many zoonotic diseases, especially in young children and immunocompromised individuals. Some of these diseases can be life threatening, such as rabies, rat bite fever, and plague. Some others are quite common, because of the frequency of the pathogens harbored by these species, such as salmonellosis in reptiles and amphibians. Appropriate knowledge of the zoonotic agents carried by these "new" pet species is strongly recommended prior to acquiring pocket or exotic pets. Furthermore, adopting wildlife as pets is strongly discouraged, because it is always a risky action that can lead to major health issues.
Topics: Animals; Communicable Diseases; Humans; Pets; Plague; Rabies; Zoonoses
PubMed: 27337276
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0012-2015 -
American Journal of Surgery Aug 2020• Surgeons have a long tradition of leading research into pandemics. • Examples include Guy de Chauliac, James Lind, John Snow, John Hunter, Walter Reed. • We...
• Surgeons have a long tradition of leading research into pandemics. • Examples include Guy de Chauliac, James Lind, John Snow, John Hunter, Walter Reed. • We should leverage this history to lead efforts fighting COVID-19.
Topics: Betacoronavirus; COVID-19; Cholera; Coronavirus Infections; Europe; Global Health; History, 15th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; History, Medieval; Humans; Leadership; North America; Pandemics; Physician's Role; Plague; Pneumonia, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Surgeons
PubMed: 32386712
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.04.042 -
Emerging Infectious Diseases Oct 2021We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics and distribution of 1,067 human plague cases and 5,958 Yersinia pestis isolates collected from humans, host animals, and insect... (Review)
Review
We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics and distribution of 1,067 human plague cases and 5,958 Yersinia pestis isolates collected from humans, host animals, and insect vectors during 1950-2019 in 4 Marmota plague foci in China. The case-fatality rate for plague in humans was 68.88%; the overall trend slowly decreased over time but fluctuated greatly. Most human cases (98.31%) and isolates (82.06%) identified from any source were from the Marmota himalayana plague focus. The tendency among human cases could be divided into 3 stages: 1950-1969, 1970-2003, and 2004-2019. The Marmota sibirica plague focus has not had identified human cases nor isolates since 1926. However, in the other 3 foci, Y. pestis continues to circulate among animal hosts; ecologic factors might affect local Y. pestis activity. Marmota plague foci are active in China, and the epidemic boundary is constantly expanding, posing a potential threat to domestic and global public health.
Topics: Animals; China; Humans; Insect Vectors; Marmota; Plague; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 34545784
DOI: 10.3201/eid2710.202239 -
Medical Anthropology May 2023I trace the development of the concept of sylvatic plague - the first sylvatic disease - examining its invention by Ricardo Jorge to describe a global phenomenon of...
I trace the development of the concept of sylvatic plague - the first sylvatic disease - examining its invention by Ricardo Jorge to describe a global phenomenon of plague reservoirs among wild rodents, and its circulation. The concept implied a space where plague was enzootic, and relied on a division between inhabited and uninhabited spaces and between domestic rats and wild rodents. Some of the characteristics of this space varied, but it always referred to places imagined as empty of humans and rats. In 1927, it designated ambiguously deserts, in 1935, uninhabited regions in general, and in Brazil, it referred to the jungle.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Humans; Plague; Yersinia pestis; Anthropology, Medical; Rodentia; Social Environment
PubMed: 36961521
DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2023.2189110 -
Microbiology Spectrum Dec 2015Historically, the rat has been considered a scourge to mankind, for example, rats infected with the plague bacillus that caused the Black Death, which accounted for... (Review)
Review
Historically, the rat has been considered a scourge to mankind, for example, rats infected with the plague bacillus that caused the Black Death, which accounted for millions of deaths in Europe during the Middle Ages. At least three pandemics (in the 5th and 6th, 8th through 14th, and 19th through 21st centuries) of plague ravaged civilizations, and the disease undoubtedly plagued humankind prior to recorded history. Also, numerous other diseases are spread to humans by rats; thus, a quote from Hans Zinsser's text Rats, Lice, and History, "Man and rat will always be pitted against each other as implacable enemies," conveys the general revulsion that society holds for the wild rat.
Topics: Animals; Europe; History, 15th Century; History, 16th Century; History, 17th Century; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; History, 21st Century; History, Ancient; History, Medieval; Humans; Plague; Rats; Yersinia pestis; Zoonoses
PubMed: 27337284
DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.IOL5-0015-2015 -
Emerging Topics in Life Sciences Dec 2020Plague is an infectious disease found worldwide and has been responsible for pandemics throughout history. Yersinia pestis, the causative bacterium, survives in rodent... (Review)
Review
Plague is an infectious disease found worldwide and has been responsible for pandemics throughout history. Yersinia pestis, the causative bacterium, survives in rodent hosts with flea vectors that also transmit it to humans. It has been endemic in Madagascar for a century but the 1990s saw major outbreaks and in 2006 the WHO described the plague as re-emerging in Madagascar and the world. This review highlights the variety of factors leading to plague re-emergence in Madagascar, including climate events, insecticide resistance, and host and human behaviour. It also addresses areas of concern for future epidemics and ways to mitigate these. Pinpointing and addressing current and future drivers of plague re-emergence in Madagascar will be essential to controlling future outbreaks both in Madagascar and worldwide.
Topics: Animals; Madagascar; Plague; Rodentia; Siphonaptera; Yersinia pestis
PubMed: 33258957
DOI: 10.1042/ETLS20200334