Potential for rat plague from nonencapsulated variants of the plague bacillus (Yersinia pestis)

Summary Potentials for oral and flea-borne transmission of nonencapsulatedY. pestis were demonstrated when 45% of rats that consumed infected meat died of plague and 22% of the rats that died of plague had bacteremia.The views of the authors do not purport to reflect the position of the Department of the Army or the Department of Defense (para 4-3, AR 360-5).In conducting the research described in this report, the investigators adhered to the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals; promulgated by the Committee on Care and Use of Laboratory Animals of the Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Research Council.