17. a. Treponema Pallidum Flashcards
What disease is caused by treponema pallidum?
Syphilis
Where are the flagellae in spirochaetes?
Periplasmic space
How is syphilis acquired?
Contact between mucous membrane and lesion
or transplacental
How does treponema get into the bloodstream?
Goes between tight junctions in epithelial cells
What hides treponema from the immune response?
Structure of the outer membrane
How does treponema cause ulceration?
Proliferates in the blood vessel wall causing necrosis
What is the incubation period for syphilis?
3 weeks
How does primary syphilis present?
Chancre
How does secondary syphilis present?
Influenza symptoms and rash
What other manifestations of secondary syphilis are there?
Splenomegaly
Lymphadenopathy
CNS involvement
How does late latent syphilis present?
Granulomatous lesions on bone and skin
Neurosyphilis
Cardiovascular syphilis
What are the effects of congenital syphilis?
High risk of stillbirth or death after delivary Rhinorrhoea Difficulty feeding Rash Hepatosplenomegaly Neuro complications Bone abnormalities
Who should be tested for syphilis?
Symptomatic patients
Anyone presenting with an STI
Antenatal patients
Blood donors
Why can’t syphilis be cultured?
Can’t survive outside the host cell
What sample should be sent to the lab for primary syphilis diagnosis?
Exudate from chancre
