title: Survival of Yersinia pestis on environmental surfaces.
abstract: The survival of two strains of Yersinia pestis (avirulent A1122 and virulent Harbin) on the surfaces of four materials was investigated. Viability was evaluated with epifluorescence microscopy by using the metabolic stain cyanoditolyl tetrazolium chloride and plate counts. Small numbers of cells suspended in phosphate buffer survived 2 to 4 h after visible drying on stainless steel, polyethylene, or glass and beyond 48 h on paper. Cells suspended in brain heart infusion broth (BHI) persisted more than 72 h on stainless steel, polyethylene, and glass. Small numbers of cells suspended in BHI were still viable at 120 h on paper. These data suggest that Y. pestis maintains viability for extended periods (last measured at 5 days) under controlled conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. lrose@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Rodney
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Donlan
authors.forename: Shailen N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arduino
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D003890:Desiccation; D005898:Glass; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D010209:Paper; D020959:Polyethylene; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013193:Stainless Steel; D020959:Polyethylene