Chlamydia Flashcards
T/F: Chlamydiaceae is an obligate intracellular pathogen
TRUE
They reproduce within the host cell
How do Chlamydiaceae appear on gram stain?
Gram negative, but no detectable peptidoglycan layer
What are the treatment options for Chlamydia?
- Azithromycin
- Tetracycline
What morphologic form of Chlamydia is infectious, survives extracellularly, has minimal metabolic activity, and is rigid?
Elementary body
What morphologic form of Chlamydia replicates intracellularly, is not infections, is metabolically active, undergoes binary fission and is osmotically fragile?
Reticulate body
Describe the tropism of C. trachomatis serovars A-C
Conjunctival epithelial cells
How are C. trachomatis serovars A-C transmitted?
Contact with ocular drainage (primarily child-child spread)
C. trachomatis serovars A-C cause what disease?
- Trachoma
- Chronic keratoconjunctivitis
- Leading cause of preventable blindness in developing countries
- Active disease wanes in 6-10 years, with blindness resulting 25-30 years later
Describe the tropism of C. trachomatis serovars D-K
Columnar epithelial cells
How are C. trachomatis serovars D-K transmitted?
Sexual contact/secretions
T/F C. trachomatis serovars D-K increase host susceptibility to and transmission of HIV
TRUE
T/F: Most women with C. trachomatis D-K infections show symptoms
FALSE
80% are asymptomatic (30-40% males)
C. trachomatis D-K infections are similar to N. gonorrheae infections except they are…
- Less abrupt in onset
- Less inflammatory
- Milder symptoms
In men, C. trachomatis D-K typically manifests as a _____
Urethritis
C. trachomatis D-K typically infects the _____ in women
Endocervix (cervicitis)
In women, C. trachomatis can ascend into the upper GU, causing _____
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
T/F: C. trachomatis is the most common cause of neonatal conjunctivitis in the US
True
Neonatal C. trachomatis pneumonia has a distinctive _____ cough
Staccato
Describe the tropism of C. trachomatis serovars L1-L3
Mostly macrophages in lymphatic and subepithelial tissue
How are serovars L1-L3 of C. trachomatis transmitted?
Sexual contact/secretions
Lymphogranuloma Venereum is caused by what C. trachomatis serovars? Who does it mostly effect? Sx?
- C. trachomatis L1-L3
- Mostly seen in MSM
-
Inguinal adenopathy, fever, chills, arthralgia
- Nodes can become suppurative (buboes) as organism multiplies
What is the cause of Ano-Genital-Rectal syndrome?
Rectal mucosa directly inoculated with C. trachomatis L1-L3 or lymphatic spread → Lymphatic blockage → Enlargement of genitalia and rectal stricture
What stain is used for diagnosis of C.trachomatis?
Giemsa
What is the most common form of labaratory diagnosis of Chlamydia today?
NAAT From swab
Describe the tropism of C. psittaci
Epithelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes
T/F: Transmission of C. psittaci is human-human
FALSE
It is a zoonosis. Transmitted via inhalation of dried bird excrement, urine or respiratory secretions
Human disease caused by C. psittaci most commonly presents as _____
- Atypical pneumonia
- Dry cough
- Insidious onset w/malaise and myalgia
- OR abrupt onset w/high fever, rigors, headache
- Severe cases can be complicated by CNS involvement
- Meningitis, meningoencephalitis
How is laboratory diagnosis of C. psittaci accomplished?
Complement fixation tests on acute convalescent sera
No idea what that means
What are the abx of choice for C. psittaci infxn?
- Doxycycline
- Azithromycin
- Clarithromycin
Describe the tropism of C. pneumoniae
Epithelial cells & macrophages
C. pneumoniae causes _____ and _____ in humans
Atypical pneumonia and a range of respiratory diseases (pharyngitis, bronchitis, O.M.?)
What are the abx of choice for C. pneumoniae infection?
- Doxycycline
- Azithromycin
- Clarithromycin
