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Tests and diagnosis
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your doctor suspects plague, he or she may look for the Yersinia pestis bacteria in samples taken from your:
- Buboes. If you have the swollen lymph nodes (buboes) characteristic of bubonic plague, a fluid sample can be taken from them with a needle.
- Blood. Yersinia pestis bacteria generally are present in your bloodstream only if you have septicemic plague.
- Lungs. To check for pneumonic plague, fluid is extracted from your airways using endoscopy — a thin, flexible tube inserted through your nose or mouth and down your throat.
References
- Everett ED. Microbiology, pathogenesis and epidemiology of plague (Yersinia pestis infection). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 17, 2010.
- Gage KL. Plague and other Yersinia infections. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/206594927-5/1015859897/1492/1167.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50338-4_14426. Accessed June 17, 2010.
- Everett ED. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of plague (Yersinia pestis infection). http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 17, 2010.
- Plague fact sheet. National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/public_health/info/factsheets/fs_plague.htm. Accessed June 18, 2010.
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about plague. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/plague/faq.asp. Accessed June 18, 2010.
- Information on plague. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague.info.htm. Accessed June 18, 2010.
- Interregional meeting on prevention and control of plague. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/WHO_HSE_EPR_2008_3w.pdf. Accessed June 21, 2010.
- Plague fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/plague/qa.htm. Accessed June 21, 2010.
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