Genera Treponema, Brachyspira, and Borrelia Flashcards
Treponema and Brachyspira are _____ organisms that can act as _____ or ______
Anaerobic
Commensals
Parasites
What would you use to stain Treponema and Brachyspira?
Crystal violet and/or Giemsa stain
_____ was originally thought to be the only cause of swine dysentary
Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
What is swine dysentary?
Muco-hemorrhagic diarrhea that can affect any age pig, but seen primarily in grower pigs
What kind of Brachyspira are the most capable of producing disease?
Beta-hemolytic strands
What do the colonies of Brachyspira look like?
More of a film than a distinct colony, with some producing a strong zone of beta hemolysis
The ring phenomenon is characteristic of what species?
Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
What is the transmission of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae?
Pig to Pig via fecal oral transmission
T/F Brachyspira hyodysenteriae can live in lagoons for up to a year and is very difficult to get out of a swine unit
TRUE
Describe the pathogenesis of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
Incubation period of 7-10 days
Organism doesn’t penetrate past lamina propria and only is in large intestinal areas
Fecal material can become very watery and bloody
Epithelial lining can become so involved it produces a pseudomembrane
Pigs completely recover 1-2 months after initial disease
Pigs are immune after infection
What are the 3 virulence factors of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae?
Hemolysin
LPS
Attachment: Suspected, but not proven
What can be used to diagnose Brachyspira hyodysenteriae?
Good history is important; intro of new stock purchased at a sale barn
Clinical signs and gross lesions
Isolation and identification to demonstrate the organism
What is the guidelines for isolating a good specimen?
Acutely ill, non-medicated pig
Is immunization against Brachyspira hyodysenteriae done?
No; elimination of the organism from the facility is the only true way to rid this disease
________ causes porcine intestinal spirochetosis and human intestinal spirochetosis
Brachyspira pilosicoli
What is the distribution of Brachyspira pilosicoli?
Worldwide in swine and humans
Brachyspira pilosicoli is a _____ beta-hemolytic intestinal spirochete
weakly
What is the growth of Brachyspira pilosicoli?
Similar to Brachyspira hyodysenteriae. The only difference is that it is a weakly beta hemolytic organism.
Describe the disease Brachyspira pilosicoli causes in pigs
Attaches in large numbers to the colonic epithelium by one end of the bacterial cell
Produces a diarrheal disease in immediate postweaning pigs, diarrhea with occasional flecks of blood
In general the disease is much milder
Describe the disease Brachyspira pilosicoli
Also characterized by teh end on attachment in the large intestine.
Common in underdeveloped countries and AIDs patients
Can see rectal bleeding with chronic diarrhea
T/F Brachyspira has been known to cross species barriers and cause disease in other animals
TRUE
______ species in domestic animals can cause papillomatous digital dermititids or hairy heel warts
Treponema
T/F Treponema species is one of the most common causes of lameness in dairy cattle
TRUE
________ is the cause of rabbitt syphilis
Treponema paralius caniculi
Syphilis, pinta, and yaws are all caused by the genus ______
Treponema
_____ is the cause of syphilis in humans
Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum
_______ is the cause of yaws. Where is this lesion most likely seen?
Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue
India, Indonesia, and many of the PAcific islands
How is yaws spread? What do these lesions affect?
It is spread via childhood direct contact
Similar to that of syphilis. Affects primarily bone and skin
_______ causes endemic syphilis or bejel, which is similar to yaws. Where does this occur? How is it transmitted?
Treponema pallidum subspecies endemicum
It occurs in the middle east and is spread children to children via unsanitary conditions
_____ is the cause of pinta. Where is this disease seen? How is it spread?
Treponema carateum. Seen in tropical areas of Central and South America.
Spread via non-sexual contact and results in primary skin lesions that are non-granulomatous in nature
______ causes periodontal disease
Oral treponemes
What are some general characteristics of the genus Borellia?
Anaerobic organisms that can occur as commensals or parasites
All species are transmitted by arthropod vectors
What are the major disease seen with Borrelia?
Relapsing fever and Lyme’s disease
What are the main Borrelia species of North America? What about Europe?
Borellia burgdorferi
Borellia afzelli and Borellia garinii
What is the life cycle of these Borellia species transmission?
Tick feeds on an infected animal, organism passes from one stage of the tick life cycle to the next
Can then trasmit to any host that it feeds on (not passed transovarially)
Thought that passerine birds can be infested with these ticks
T/F Borellia burgdorferi can be transmitted transstadially or transovarially in the tick
FALSE; no transovarial transmission can occur
What are the three stages of disease associated woth Borellia burgdorferi in humans?
First stage: skin lesion that is actually an infectious process of the skin; is NOT an allergic reaction
Second stage: invades bloodstream and is disseminated through body. Fever, headache, and other non-specific complaints. A month after tick bite.
Third stage: Arthritis, neuritis, and cardiac complications. Can be fatal.
How would you treat Burellia burgdorferi?
Long term doxycycline or amoxicillin
Are vaccines used for Borellia burgdorferi?
Yes; dogs can be vaccinated if they are in areas where this is endemic
What are the three areas of the US where Borellia burgdorferi is endemic?
Northeast
Midwest
Northwest
How would you diagnose Borellia burgdorferi?
Seriological tests such as the C6 SNAP test
Direct exam via Darkfield
Culture; slow growing, 6-8 weeks
What is the veterinary significance of Borellia burgdorferi?
causes a tick transmitted inflammatory joint disease of dogs and cats and possibly horses
______ is the cause of fowl spirochaetosis
Borellia anserina
Borellia anserina commonly affects what?
Chickens; also affects ducks, turkeys, geese, and primarily young birds
What disease does Borellia anserina cause?
Acute septicemia with fever, diarrhea, drowsiness, and emaciation.
Birds become anemic and have enlarged spleens
How is Borellia anserina transmitted?
Via ticks. EVERYTHING IS
Borellia theileri causes what? Where is it likely seen?
Fever and septicemia in cattle. Australia, Africa, and South America
T/F There are several species of Borellia that cause relapsing fever in humans
TRUE
What are the two divisions of transmission for relapsing fever in humans?
Louse borne (1 species; Borellia recurrentis) Tick borne (Many species)
What are some clinical signs of relapsing fever in humans?
CNS signs, myocarditis, and hepatitis
