Lecture 23 Flashcards
What is the causative agent of Syphilis?
Bacterium Treponema pallidum
Describe the shape of T. pallidum
A long, thin, spirochaete (0.2um in W and 5-15 um in length).
Describe the mobility of the T. pallidum
Motility is due to an axial filament
Describe the axial filament.
The axial filament is a fibre or bundle of fibres attached to the cell poles and wrapped around the cell in a spiral fashion.
What type of microscopy is difficult to appreciate T. pallidum?
T. pallidum does not stain well with aniline dyes, therefore difficult to see with bright light microscopy.
What microscopy method is the best when wanting to appreciate T. pallidum?
Dark field microscopy or the fluorescent antibody technique.
True or false. T. pallidum can be cultivated with certainty on artificial media, fertile eggs, or tissues.
Fale. It can’t.
Define chancre
A painless ulcer, particularly one that develops on the genitals in venereal disease.
In the primary sage of syphilis, how many days before the chancre is visible?
10-90 days (average 21 days).
In syphilis, without treatment, how long will it take for the chancre to heal?
1-5 weeks.
Describe symptoms of secondary syphilis.
-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.
In the secondary stage, how long do the symptoms disappear without treatment?
2-6 weeks.
Is antibiotic treatment effective in syphilis cases?
Yes, very effective.
True or false, if secondary syphilis is not treated, there will be specific symptoms.
False. there’s no specific symptoms.
True or false. 25% of untreated individuals will no longer be contagious with latent syphilis. Except pregnant women and her unborn child.
True
True or false. 66% of individuals with untreated syphilis will not longer be bothered by the disease.
True
True or false. 55% of untreated syphilis individuals will develop late syphilis.
False. 33%.
Describe Benign late syphilis.
Benign late syphilis affects various parts of the body such as the skin, muscles, digestive organs, liver, lungs, eyes and endocrine glands.
Describe Cardiovascular late syphilis.
This will affect the heart and major blood vessels.
Often fatal
It appears 10-40 years after the beginning of syphilis.
Describe neurosyphilis
Neurosyphilis affects the spinal cord and brain and results in paralysis and insanity.
Usually fatal
appears 10-20 years after the beginning of syphilis.
In congenital syphilis, what bacterium moves from the infected mother to the fetus?
T. pallidum
True or false, miscarriages and stillbirths can occur from congenital syphilis?
True
Name the five signs in childhood from congenital syphilis and explain each.
- Interstitial keratitis - inflammation of the cornea.
- Hutchinson’s teeth- Second incisors are barrels shaped, shorter than normal.
- Saddle nose - a depressed bridge
- Periostitis - inflammation of the membrane covering the bones.
- CNS anomalies - occur with congenital syphilis.
Name the two laboratory diagnosis procedure of syphilis
- The fluid of the chancre can be examined microscopically.
- Serological test for syphilis can exist.
