False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the whooping cough bacteria, Bordetella pertussis. This is a Gram-negative bacillus bacteria of whi

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False-colour scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the whooping cough bacteria, Bordetella pertussis. This is a Gram-negative bacillus bacteria of which two specimens are seen here. Whooping cough, known also as pertussis, is strictly a human infectious disease, occurring mainly in infants. The bacteria cause a respiratory tract infection characterised by fits of coughing that end in loud inspiratory whoops. Potentially fatal in newborn and premature babies, these bacteria are spread in coughed drop- lets. Antibiotic drugs have limited effect and the disease must run its course; pertussis vaccination is effective. Magnification: x4,285 at 6x7cm size.

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Size: 2717px × 3910px
Photo credit: © CNRI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: bacteria, bacterial, bacteriology, bacterium, betaproteobacteria, bordetella, cough, infect, micro-organisms, microbe, microbes, microbiology, pertussis, sem, type, whoop, whooping