| ambulatory plague | <infectious disease> A mild form of bubonic plague characterised by symptoms such as mild fever and lymphadenitis. Synonym: larval plague, parapestis, pestis ambulans, pestis minor. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| aseptic meningitis | <neurology> A meningeal reaction in the cerebrospinal fluid sometimes occurring in the absence of an infecting organism. It can be due to a virus, foreign substance, diagnostic or therapeutic procedure, or to a tumour or a septic focus within the skull or spinal canal. <virology> When due to a virus, it is seen most often in those under 30 years of age. Peak time for infection is in late summer. Majority of cases are caused by the Coxsackie and echovirus. (21 Jun 1999) |
| basilar meningitis | Meningitis at the base of the brain, due usually to tuberculosis, syphilis, or any low-grade chronic granulomatous process; may result in an internal hydrocephalus. (05 Mar 2000) |
| black plague | In 14th-century Europe, the victims of the black plague had bleeding below the skin (subcutaneous haemorrhage) which made darkened ( blackened ) their bodies. Black plague can lead to black death characterised by gangrene of the fingers, toes, and nose. Black plague is caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) which is transmitted to humans from infected rats by the oriental rat flea. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bubonic plague | <microbiology> This rare bacterial infection due to Yersinia pestis. It can cause painful, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache and prostration 2-7 days after a flea bite. May also cause pneumonia and sepsis. Transmitted in rodents and humans via an infected flea bite. The incubation period is 2-10 days. Yersinia infection is now rare in Western countries. Third world countries (for example India) can have epidemics of Yersinia. Treatment with antibiotics is necessary or most individuals will die. Even with antibiotic treatment the death rate is 5%. (15 Nov 1997) |
| rabbit plague | A virulent epidemic disease among laboratory rabbits caused by the rabbitpox virus, a member of the family Poxviridae; it does not apparently occur among wild rabbits. Synonym: rabbit plague. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Pahvant Valley plague | <infectious disease, microbiology> A rare infection of rabbits and rodents caused by the bacteria Francisella tularensis. Francisella tularensis is found in many animals (rabbits, rodents) and may be transmitted by direct contact or via insect bite (ticks and deer-fly). Humans can also contract the illness via the direct contact with the infected animal carcass (break in the skin). The illness is characterised by an ulcerative lesion at the site of the inoculation with regional lymph node swelling, pneumonia, fever, chills, headache, muscle pains and joint stiffness. Risk factors include an exposure to rabbits or recent tick bite. A vaccine is available for high risk workers. Treatment is with streptomycin or tetracycline. Tularaemia is fatal in 5% of untreated cases and in less than 1% of treated cases. Incidence: less than 200 cases per year (USA). Origin: Gr. Haima = blood (18 Jul 2002) |
| cattle plague | A viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals caused by morbillivirus. It may be acute, subacute, or chronic with the major lesions characterised by inflammation and ulceration of the entire digestive tract. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cattle plague virus | A species of morbillivirus causing cattle plague, a disease with high mortality. Sheep, goats, pigs, and other animals of the order artiodactyla can also be infected. (12 Dec 1998) |
| glandular plague | <microbiology> This rare bacterial infection due to Yersinia pestis. It can cause painful, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, headache and prostration 2-7 days after a flea bite. May also cause pneumonia and sepsis. Transmitted in rodents and humans via an infected flea bite. The incubation period is 2-10 days. Yersinia infection is now rare in Western countries. Third world countries (for example India) can have epidemics of Yersinia. Treatment with antibiotics is necessary or most individuals will die. Even with antibiotic treatment the death rate is 5%. (15 Nov 1997) |
| viral meningitis | <pathology> A viral form of infection that is seen most often in those under 30 years of age. Peak time for infection is in late summer. Majority of cases are caused by the Coxsackie and echovirus. (27 Sep 1997) |
| cerebrospinal meningitis | <microbiology, neurology> Inflammation of the meninges. When it affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis, when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis or meningitis proper. See also: aseptic meningitis. Origin: Gr. Meninx = membrane (21 Jun 1999) |
| meningitis | <microbiology, neurology> Inflammation of the meninges. When it affects the dura mater, the disease is termed pachymeningitis, when the arachnoid and pia mater are involved, it is called leptomeningitis or meningitis proper. See also: aseptic meningitis. Origin: Gr. Meninx = membrane (21 Jun 1999) |
| meningitis, bacterial | Meningitis caused by species of bacteria. (12 Dec 1998) |
| meningitis, cryptococcal | A type of meningitis caused by cryptococcus neoformans. This condition is a commonly encountered opportunistic infection of aids patients. (12 Dec 1998) |