How Do You Spell BACILLUS PESTIS?

1. Bacillus pestis is a bacterium that is the causative agent of the deadly disease known as bubonic plague or simply the plague. This pathogenic bacterium belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae and is classified as a Gram-negative, facultative anaerobe.

   Bacillus pestis is primarily transmitted through the bites of infected fleas that mainly reside on small mammals, particularly rodents like rats. This bacterium has a unique ability to colonize and multiply within the flea's gut, ultimately obstructing its digestive tract and causing starvation. As a result, the infected fleas become voracious feeders, biting and transmitting the bacterium to other animals or humans.

   Once transmitted to a host, Bacillus pestis progresses through several stages of infection. The initial form of the disease is bubonic plague, characterized by severe inflammation and swollen lymph nodes, leading to the formation of painful, tender, and often visible boils or buboes. If left untreated, the bacterium can spread to the bloodstream, resulting in septicemic plague, or it can invade the lungs, causing the highly contagious pneumonic plague.

   Throughout history, Bacillus pestis has been responsible for several devastating pandemics, including the infamous Black Death in the 14th century, which wiped out a significant portion of the European population. Despite the availability of antibiotics, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains poses a continuous threat, highlighting the need for effective prevention, surveillance, and prompt treatment measures.

2. A pleomorphous coccobacillus, often occurring in chains and sometimes encapsulated, the specific cause of bubonic plague.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for BACILLUS PESTIS

The word "Bacillus pestis" has its origin in Latin and Greek.

1. "Bacillus": The term "bacillus" comes from the Latin word "bacillum", which means a small staff or rod. It denotes a shape similar to a cylindrical rod, which is characteristic of certain bacteria.

2. "Pestis": The word "pestis" is a Latin term meaning plague or epidemic. It is derived from the Latin verb "pestare", meaning to afflict or to destroy. The term was historically used to describe infectious diseases, particularly those that had severe and widespread impacts.

Therefore, "Bacillus pestis" refers to a specific bacterial species that causes the disease known as plague.