B2 G&D Lec:1 Genital ulcers and warts Flashcards
What is a genital ulcer disease?
a breach in the skin or mucosa of the genitalia
• Usually is sexually transmitted
Which organism cause syphilis?
Treponema pallidum
What is the reservoir of T.pallidum?
Human only
Describe the property of T.pallidum ?
• Belong to genera of spirochetes which are flexible, spiral rods
• They are motile through the undulation of axial filaments that lie under the outer sheath
• Treponemes are so thin that they are detected only by dark field microscopy, silver staining or immunofluorescence
• Has not been grown on bacteriologic media or in cell culture
• They grows very slowly, so antibiotics must be present at an effective level for several weeks to kill the organisms and cure the disease
What are the antigens of T.pallidum used as serologic diagnosis of syphilis?
- Specific antibodies
- Nonspecific antibodies (reagin), which can be detected by the flocculation
How is the specific antibodies detected in T.pallidum?
by immunofluorescence or hemagglutination tests in the clinical laboratory
What is flocculation ?
flocculation (agglutination of antibodies) of lipids (cardiolipin) extracted from normal mammalian tissues (e.g., beef heart)
How is T.pallidum transmitted?
—-> transmitted from spirochete-containing lesions in skin or mucous membranes (e.g., genitalia, mouth, and rectum) of an infected person to other persons by intimate contact mainly sexual.
• It can also be transmitted from pregnant women to their fetuses
• Rarely, by blood transfusion
What is endarteritis?
Infection in the endothelium of small blood vessels by T.pallidum
When endarteritis occur?
This occurs during all stages of syphilis but is particularly important in the pathogenesis of the brain and cardiovascular lesions seen in tertiary syphilis
What happens in primary syphilis?
The spirochetes multiply at the site of inoculation, and a local, non painful, non tender ulcer (chancre) usually forms in 2 to 10 weeks.
The ulcer heals spontaneously, but spirochetes spread widely via the bloodstream (bacteremia) to many organs.
What happens in secondary syphilis ?
• The lesions appear as a maculopapular rash, notably on the palms and soles, or as moist papules on skin and mucous membranes (mucous patches).
•Moist papules on the genitals are called condylomata lata.
• These lesions are rich in spirochetes and are highly infectious, but they also heal spontaneously
What is condylomata lata?
Moist papules on the genitals
When 2ndry syphilis occur?
one to 3 months later
What are the constitutional symptoms in 2ndry syphilis?
- low grade fever
- malaise
- anorexia
- weight loss
- headache
- myalgias
- generalized lymphadenopathy
How is syphilis usually treated?
• About one-third of these early (primary and secondary) syphilis cases will “cure” themselves, without treatment.
• Another third remain latent (i.e., no lesions appear, but positive serologic tests indicate continuing infection).
• The latent period can be divided into early and late stages.
What occurs in the early latent period?
can last for 1 or 2 years symptoms of secondary syphilis can reappear and patients can infect others
What occurs in the late latent period ?
can last for many years, no symptoms occur and patients are not infectious.
What does the remaining 1/3 represent?
the disease progresses to the tertiary stage. Tertiary syphilis usually occurs decades after infection with T. pallidum, but immunocompromised patients (e.g., HIV) may develop more rapidly.
Describe tertiary syphilis manifestation
may show granulomas (gummas), especially of skin, bones, cardiovascular (aortitic aneurysm) and central nervous system involvement known as neurosyphilis (e.g. tabes, paresis)
What does it mean that syphilis has incomplete immunity ?
Antibodies to the organism are produced but do not stop the progression of the disease.
Patients with early syphilis who have been treated can contract syphilis again. Patients with late syphilis are relatively resistant to reinfection.
When do the early onset of Congenital syphilis occur?
•Fetal infection can result in stillbirth.
•Early (onset < 2 years of age)
Describe the appearance of early congenital syphilis
macular, copper-colored rash on the palms and soles and papular lesions around the nose and mouth and in the diaper area.
Characteristic mucopurulent or blood-stained nasal discharge causing snuffles.
The infant may fail to thrive
Describe the appearance of late congenital syphilis
bone lesions, such as Hutchinson’s teeth, saddle nose, saber shins and frontal bossing.
•Other findings, such as lymphadenopathy,
hepatosplenomegaly, interstitial keratitis, and eighth nerve deafness, also occur.
When does the late onset of congenital syphilis take place?
onset > 2 years of age
Mention how T.pallidum is diagnosed ?
- Microscopy
- Non spesific serologic tests
- Specific Serologic Tests
- The laboratory diagnosis of congenital syphilis
How is Spirochetes of primary & secondary syphilis demonstrated in microscopy ?
by dark field microscopy or by direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test. They are not seen on a Gram-stained smear
How microscopy approach is done in tertiary syphilis?
• In biopsy specimens, such as those obtained from the gummas seen in tertiary syphilis
• Histologic stains such as silver stain or fluorescent antibody can be used.
What is gummas?
Gummas are granulomatous lesions with central area of necrosis due to obliterating endarteritis
Which test is inexpensive and easy to perform and therefore are used as a method of screening the population for infection?
Non spesific serologic tests