Wanted: Bordetella pertussis
By: Evi Heinen and Rylee O'Bryan
General Physical Description
The bordetella are small, rod shaped, gram-negative.
Diagram
Weapons
The Bordetella pertussis can enter the body from an infected individual sneezing on an uninfected. This bacteria travels to the lungs where it creates toxins in mucus that are difficult to cough up, creating a whooping cough.
Most Common Victim
Children and Teens
Hide Out
Human respiratory system
Most Common Injury
Whooping cough, runny nose, sneezing, and mild fever
Is it armed and dangerous?
Extremely dangerous to humans of a young age, such as infants or toddlers
Number of victims
3,000-8,000 since the 1980s
Most effective weapons against
Vaccination for prevention
Antibiotics for treatment
Identifying Characteristics
Resides in hosts individually or in small groups
Grows at an optimal temperature of 35-37 degrees Celsius
Works Cited
- "Pertussis (Whooping Cough)." Pertussis. Public Heath Agency of Canada, 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
- Finger, Horst. "Bordetella." Bordetella. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
- "Pertussis (Whooping Cough)." - Body, Contagious, Causes, What Is Pertussis? Advameg, Inc., n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
- "Institutional Links." Bordetella Pertussis. Public Heath Agency of Canada, 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2016.