ID#: 2025
Caption:
This enlargement depicts a right lateral view of an Oriental rat flea, Xenopsylla cheopis, which displayed what is known as a proventricular plague mass. During feeding, the flea draws viable Yersinia pestis organisms into its esophagus, which multiply and block the proventriculus just in front of the stomach, later forcing the flea to regurgitate infected blood unto the subsequent host when it tries to swallow, thereby, transferring the bacteria to the bitten host.
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Content Provider(s): CDC
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Copyright Restrictions: None - This image is in the public domain and thus free of any copyright restrictions.