Lecture 23

Question 1

What is the causative agent of Syphilis?

Answer 1

Bacterium Treponema pallidum

Question 2

Describe the shape of T. pallidum

Answer 2

A long, thin, spirochaete (0.2um in W and 5-15 um in length).

Question 3

Describe the mobility of the T. pallidum

Answer 3

Motility is due to an axial filament

Question 4

Describe the axial filament.

Answer 4

The axial filament is a fibre or bundle of fibres attached to the cell poles and wrapped around the cell in a spiral fashion.

Question 5

What type of microscopy is difficult to appreciate T. pallidum?

Answer 5

T. pallidum does not stain well with aniline dyes, therefore difficult to see with bright light microscopy.

Question 6

What microscopy method is the best when wanting to appreciate T. pallidum?

Answer 6

Dark field microscopy or the fluorescent antibody technique.

Question 7

True or false. T. pallidum can be cultivated with certainty on artificial media, fertile eggs, or tissues.

Answer 7

Fale. It can’t.

Question 8

Define chancre

Answer 8

A painless ulcer, particularly one that develops on the genitals in venereal disease.

Question 9

In the primary sage of syphilis, how many days before the chancre is visible?

Answer 9

10-90 days (average 21 days).

Question 10

In syphilis, without treatment, how long will it take for the chancre to heal?

Answer 10

1-5 weeks.

Question 11

Describe symptoms of secondary syphilis.

Answer 11

-skin rash appears after about 6 weeks that does not hurt, 25% of cases report ill health such as headache, low fever and chronic sore throat.

Question 12

In the secondary stage, how long do the symptoms disappear without treatment?

Answer 12

2-6 weeks.

Question 13

Is antibiotic treatment effective in syphilis cases?

Answer 13

Yes, very effective.

Question 14

True or false, if secondary syphilis is not treated, there will be specific symptoms.

Answer 14

False. there’s no specific symptoms.

Question 15

True or false. 25% of untreated individuals will no longer be contagious with latent syphilis. Except pregnant women and her unborn child.

Answer 15

True

Question 16

True or false. 66% of individuals with untreated syphilis will not longer be bothered by the disease.

Answer 16

True

Question 17

True or false. 55% of untreated syphilis individuals will develop late syphilis.

Answer 17

False. 33%.

Question 18

Describe Benign late syphilis.

Answer 18

Benign late syphilis affects various parts of the body such as the skin, muscles, digestive organs, liver, lungs, eyes and endocrine glands.

Question 19

Describe Cardiovascular late syphilis.

Answer 19

This will affect the heart and major blood vessels.
Often fatal
It appears 10-40 years after the beginning of syphilis.

Question 20

Describe neurosyphilis

Answer 20

Neurosyphilis affects the spinal cord and brain and results in paralysis and insanity.
Usually fatal
appears 10-20 years after the beginning of syphilis.

Question 21

In congenital syphilis, what bacterium moves from the infected mother to the fetus?

Answer 21

T. pallidum

Question 22

True or false, miscarriages and stillbirths can occur from congenital syphilis?

Answer 22

True

Question 23

Name the five signs in childhood from congenital syphilis and explain each.

Answer 23

1. Interstitial keratitis - inflammation of the cornea.
2. Hutchinson’s teeth- Second incisors are barrels shaped, shorter than normal.
3. Saddle nose - a depressed bridge
4. Periostitis - inflammation of the membrane covering the bones.
5. CNS anomalies - occur with congenital syphilis.

Question 24

Name the two laboratory diagnosis procedure of syphilis

Answer 24

1. The fluid of the chancre can be examined microscopically.
2. Serological test for syphilis can exist.

Question 25

Explain how a syphilis can be examines by ultraviolet microscopy?

Answer 25

By mixing the chancre fluid with fluorescein-labelled antibody and that permits you to view the fluorescent spirochaetes.

Question 26

What is a serological test?

Answer 26

Serologic tests are blood tests that look for antibodies in your blood.

Question 27

What does VDRL stand for?

Answer 27

VDRL test: A blood test for syphilis (VDRL stands for Venereal Disease Research Laboratory) that detects an antibody that is present in the bloodstream when a patient has syphilis.

Question 28

What is the first treatment of choice for syphilis?

Answer 28

Penicillin injection in the buttocks

Question 29

What type of penicillin is utilized for the first treatment option in treating syphilis and why is this type of medicine used specifically?

Answer 29

Bezathine penicillin or procaine penicillin G with aluminum monostearate. Procaine is used as a local. These are slowly excreted, long lasting forms of penicillins because T. pallidum grows slowly.

Question 30

What is the second choice treatment for syphilis and why?

Answer 30

Tetracycline for those who are allergic to penicillin.

Question 31

What is the third choice of treatment for syphilis and why?

Answer 31

Erythromycin, for pregnant women who are allergic to penicillin.

Question 32

What bacterium is Lymphogranuloma venereum caused by?

Answer 32

Chlamydia Chlamydia trachomatis

Question 33

Is Clameydia Gram positive or Gram negative?

Answer 33

Gram negative

Question 34

True or false. Chlamydiae have complexe methods of reproduction?

Answer 34

True

Question 35

True or false. Chlamydiae are transmitted by arthropod vectors?

Answer 35

False. They are a sexually transmitted disease.

Question 36

What bacterium Chancroid caused by?

Answer 36

Haemophilus ducreyi.

Question 37

What bacterium causes Granuloma inguinale?

Answer 37

Klebsiella granulomatis.