Yersinia

Yersinia is a genus of bacteria in the family Yersiniaceae. Named after the Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre-Émile-John Yersin, it includes notable species such as Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of plague, and Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, both of which are responsible for various intestinal disorders.

History

The genus Yersinia was first described in 1944 by French bacteriologists Eugène Louis Simon and André Urbain. The genus was named in honor of Alexandre-Émile-John Yersin, who first isolated Yersinia pestis during the Third Pandemic of plague in Hong Kong in 1894.

Characteristics

Yersinia species are Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria. They are facultative anaerobes, meaning they can grow in both the presence and absence of oxygen. Some species, such as Yersinia pestis, are capable of living inside host cells, a characteristic that helps them evade the immune system.

Pathogenicity

Several species of Yersinia are pathogenic in humans and other animals. The most well-known is Yersinia pestis, which causes plague. Other pathogenic species include Yersinia enterocolitica, which causes gastroenteritis, and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, which can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from fever and abdominal pain to more serious conditions like septicemia.

Treatment and Prevention

Treatment for infections caused by Yersinia species typically involves antibiotics. Prevention strategies include good hygiene practices and, in the case of plague, control of rodent populations.

See Also

• Bacteria
• Plague
• Gastroenteritis
• Septicemia