MICRO: SPIROCHAETES Flashcards
Shape of all the sporichaetes
spiral
The 3 clinically important spirochaetes
- leptospira
- Borrelia
- Treponema
How to best visualise spirochaetes?
- Use dark field or phase-contrast microspocy
*Not visualised by routine microscopy techniques nor do they stain with gram stain
Two main species of leptospira
- leptospira interrogans (contains all human antigens–to mimic antigens of human cells so they evade immune system
- Leptospira biflexa
Individual assumed to be at high risks for infection with leptospira spp?
- Water sport enthusiast
- sewer workers
- Agricultural workers
Transmission is through direct contact with infected animals and their bodily fluids
Leptospira interrogans
Transmission is through exposure to surface water/soil that is contaminated with animal urine
Leptospira biflex
How leptospira gain antry into the human host?
Penetrate abraded skin or mucous membrane
Organs colonized by the leptospira spp in humans
renal tubules
- Are then excreted in urine
Leptosira has________(how many) phases of illness
2
- Early infection: systemic dissemination (leptospiraemic phase)
- Late infection: target organ damage (leptospiruric phase)
Organs affected by leptospira….
eyes, brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys
Hallmark of Weil’s disease (severe leptospirosis)
liver dysfunction, renal failure, haemorrhagic manifestations
Leads to lyme disease
Borrelia species (the hard bodied ticks)
Borreli spp which leads to lyme disease
Borrelia bugdorferi (in the US)
Risk groups for infection with Borelli?
- Farmers
- Animal workers
- Recreational and occupational exposures
A zoonotic infection transmitted by infected arthropod vectors ( hard-bodied ticks)
Lyme disease
T/F: Borrelia are a tick species which cause lyme disease
True
Borrelia has________(how many) stages of illness?
3
- Early infection localised ( prevails within 1 month)
- Early infection disseminated (prevails within 4 months)
- Late/persistent or chronic infection (after 4 months)
Organs affected by Borrelia species…
heart, skin, muscle, CNS and Joints
Symptoms seen with the ‘early infection localised’ stage of infection with Borrelia
erythema migrans
A cause of genital ulcer disease?
Treponema pallidum
Non-sexually transmitted syphilis
Non-venereal syphilis
Sexually transmitted syphilis
venereal syphilis
The 3 non-venereal syphilises (all are transmitted through direct contact with the lesions)
- Yaws
- Endemic syphilis (Bejel)
- Pinta
