Bacteria and Diseases Flashcards
What is the aim of gram staining?
- To identify the shape, structure of cell, or if gram negative or gram positive
- Identify to treat infection with appropriate antibiotics, due to antibiotic resistance
Explains the results from a sensitivity test
The larger the margin, the more sensitive the bacteria is to the antibiotic used.
How would you treat bacterial infections?
- Antiseptics e.g., iodine, chlorhexidine and flushing
- Targeting therapy e.g., antibiotics, bacteriostatic and bactericidal
Discuss cocci gram positive diseases
- Staphylococcus: Cause pyoderma and otitis externa in dogs
- Staphylococcus: Causes strangles in horses
Discuss bacilli gram positive diseases
- Corynebacterium: Causes mastitis in cows
- Clostridium: Causes tetanus toxin, which causes spastic paralysis
- Listeria: Causes septicemia, abortion and meningitis
Discuss enterobacteriaceae gram negative diseases
- Salmonella
- Escherichia coli
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Yersinia: Cause bubonic or pneumonic plague
What are the three basic shapes of bacteria and describe them?
- Bacilli: Rod-shaped cells (some are curved which are called vibrios)
- Cocci: Spherical cells
- Spirilla: Spiral or helical cells (If cell wall is flexible, they are known as spriochetes)
What is a facultative anaerobe?
An organism that makes ATP by aerobic respiration when oxygen is present, but is capable of fermenting or anaerobic respiration if oxygen is absent.
What is an obligate aerobe?
Cannot make ATP in the absence of oxygen
What is an obligate anaerobe?
Die in the presence of oxygen
What does staphylo-…. mean?
A cluster of said shapes of bacteria
What does strepto-….. mean?
A line of said shapes of bacteria
How does pathogenic bacteria cause disease?
- Colonization: cause cell lysis and tissue damage
- Toxin formation: endotoxins and exotoxins
What are exotoxins?
- Produced by both gram negative and positive bacteria
- Body produces antibodies known as antitoxins to neutralize the toxins
- Can be treated by formaldehyde
What are endotoxins?
- Produced from gram negative bacteria
- Less toxic than exotoxins
- High levels result in serious drop in blood pressure causing endotoxic shock.
What are the effects of toxins? (Clostridium tetani spores/tetanus and staphylococcus)
- The spores secrete exotoxins, which affect the CNS leading to muscle spasms and paralysis
- Staphylococcus affects GIT
What is Leptospirosis?
- Zoonotic bacterial infection (spirochaete gram negative bacteria), which affects the kidney and liver.
What is the transmission route for Leptospirosis?
- Direct, indirect contact, contaminated water and urine
What are the clinical signs for Leptospirosis?
- Acute renal failure
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Anorexia
- Jaundice
-Abdominal pain - Liver failure
- Petechial haemorrhages
What is the diagnosis for Leptospirosis?
- Elevated levels of urea and creatinine and elevated liver enzymes
What is the incubation period for Leptospirosis?
7 days
How is Leptospirosis treated?
- Isolation
- IVFT
- Antibiotics
- Antiemetics
- Dietary management
How is Leptospirosis prevented?
- Vaccination
- Good hygiene
What is Pasterurellosis (Snuffles)?
- A gram neagtive bacilli or coccibacilli bacteria, which causes pneumonia in rabbits
What is the transmission route for Pasteurellosis (Snuffles)?
- Direct and indirect contact
What are the clinical signs for Pasteurellosis (Snuffles)?
- Serous exudate from the eyes and nose
- Rhinitis
- Conjunctivitis
What is the diagnosis for Pasteurellosis (Snuffles)?
- Clinical signs
- Culture discharge
What is the treatment for Pasteurellosis (Snuffles)?
- Antibiotics (but take care, as may cause enteritis)
How do you prevent Pasteurellosis (Snuffles)?
- Isolation of new rabbits until tested
What is Bordetella?
A bacilli gram negative bacteria, RT commensals or virus, which are obligate aerobes that cause kennel cough, cat flu and snuffles.
What is the transmission route for Bordetella (Kennel Cough)?
- Spread via aerosol droplets
What are the clinical signs for Kennel Cough?
- Honking cough
- Retching
- Vomiting
What is the diagnosis for Kennel Cough?
- Clinical history
- PCR on bacterial culture
What is the treatment for Kennel Cough?
- Isolation
- Antibiotics
- Antitussives (Cough suppressants)
- Anti-inflammatories
How do you prevent Kennel Cough?
- Vaccination
What is Borrelia?
- A spirochaete bacteria that causes Lyme disease
What is the incubation period for Kennel Cough?
5-7 days
