Bacterial Infections of the GI Tract III Flashcards
Vibrio spp. (Disease-Causing spp.)
1) Vibrio cholerae (Gastroenteritsi, Bacteremia)
2) Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Gastroenteritis, Bacteremia, Wound infection)
3) Vibrio vulnificus (Bacteremia, Wound infection)
Virbio spp. (Characteristics)
- Gram negative, facultative anaerobes
- COMMMA (curved) shaped
- Free-living in water
- Broad temperature range of growth
- REQUIRE SODIUM CHLORIDE for growth
- Grow at a WIDE RANGE of pH (susceptive to stomach acid, high infectious dose ~10^9)
Vibrio cholerae (Small Intestine) (Disease)
Cholera
- Asymptomatic –> severe WATERY diarrhea
- 2-3 day incubation
- Up to 7 day duration
- 5 to 25% of infected individuals develop SEVERE WATERY diarrhea (abrupt onset, ~17 liters/4.5 gallons in a 150 lb person, Rice water stool, can kill within HOURS via dehydration)
Vibrio cholerae (Small Intestine) (Epidemiology)
- Spread through CONTAMINATED WATER
- Infection = LONG-TERM IMMUNITY (appears to be O antigen specific)
- Associated with epidemics and pandemics
Vibrio cholerae (Small Intestine) (Typing and Epidemiology)
1) Based on O-antigens (O1 to O200+)
2) O1 = cholera toxin-producing
- Epidemic and Pandemic cholera caused by O1 serotype
a) Pandemics 1-6 caused by classic biotype
b) Current pandemic (#7) caused by El Tor biotype
- Less severe disease (1 symptomatic to 30-100 asymptomatic)
- Duration of carriage longer than classic strain
- Survives better in the environment (carried longer, shed longer)
O-antigens change = Patients no longer immune
Vibrio cholerae (Small Intestine) (Virulence Factors (2 of them) and Pathogenesis)
1) Toxin co-regulated pilus (TCP)
- Mediated adherence to intestinal epithelial cells
* Binds to cell*
2) Cholera Toxin
- AB toxin
- Activation of adenylate cyclase –> INCREASE cAMP –> massive efflux of watery secretions
- NO significant cell damage done by toxin
- Very similar effect to ETEC LT toxin (structure and function)
- Encoded on CTXo (PROPHAGE/BACTERIOPHAGE)
Vibrio cholerae (Small Intestine) (Diagnosis and Treatment)
Diagnosis:
-Culture (differential media; in places where cholera is not common)
Treatment:
- Rehydration therapy - IV and oral
- Without rehydration therapy, mortality can be as high as 90%
Vibrio parahaemolyitcus (Small Intestine) (Disease and Virulence)
Disease:
-Explosive watery diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abd cramps, low grade fever
Virulence:
- KANAGAWA HEMOLYSIN* (VIRULENCE FACTOR)
- Induces chloride secretion, thus watery diarrhea
Vibrio parahaemolyitcus (Small Intestine) (Epidemiology and Treatment/Prevention)
Epidemiology:
- Associated with consumption of RAW SHELLFISH
- Most common cause of:
1) Bacterial gastroenteritis in Japan and Southeast Asia
2) Seafood associated gastroenteritis in the US
Treatment and Prevention:
- Self-limiting
- Proper cooking of shellfish
Yersinia enterocolitica (Small Intestine) (Characteristics)
- Gram negative coccobacilli
- Related to Yersinia pestis (Causative agent of Bubonic Plague)
Yersinia enterocolitica (Small Intestine) (Epidemiology)
Widespread in NATURE and ANIMALS
- Most isolates are AVIRULENT
- Spread by ingestion of CONTAMINATED WATER, FOOD (e.g. improperly cooked PORK)
Yersinia enterocolitica (Small Intestine) (Symptoms)
Fever, abd cramps, watery –> bloody diarrhea
-Last 1-2 weeks
Yersinia enterocolitica (Small Intestine) (Pathogenesis)
- Poorly understood
- Binds to and invades M-cells in the terminal ILEUM (similar to Salmonella spp. , but via separate mechanism)
- Involves T3SS and injection of Yops (Yersinia outer proteins)
- Produces HEAT-STABLE ENTEROTOXIN (main reason symptoms manifest as diarrhea)
Yersinia enterocolitica (Small Intestine) (Diagnosis and Treatment)
Diagnosis
-Stool culture
Treatment:
-Self-limiting
Clostridium difficile (Large Intestine) (Characteristics)
- Gram positive anaerobe
- Non-invasive
- SPORE FORMING
- Emerging pathogen (Nosocomial, HAI)