MICRO: SPIROCHAETES

Question 1

Shape of all the sporichaetes

Answer 1

spiral

Question 2

The 3 clinically important spirochaetes

Answer 2

• leptospira
• Borrelia
• Treponema

Question 3

How to best visualise spirochaetes?

Answer 3

• Use dark field or phase-contrast microspocy

*Not visualised by routine microscopy techniques nor do they stain with gram stain

Question 4

Two main species of leptospira

Answer 4

• leptospira interrogans (contains all human antigens–to mimic antigens of human cells so they evade immune system
• Leptospira biflexa

Question 5

Individual assumed to be at high risks for infection with leptospira spp?

Answer 5

• Water sport enthusiast
• sewer workers
• Agricultural workers

Question 6

Transmission is through direct contact with infected animals and their bodily fluids

Answer 6

Leptospira interrogans

Question 7

Transmission is through exposure to surface water/soil that is contaminated with animal urine

Answer 7

Leptospira biflex

Question 8

How leptospira gain antry into the human host?

Answer 8

Penetrate abraded skin or mucous membrane

Question 9

Organs colonized by the leptospira spp in humans

Answer 9

renal tubules

• Are then excreted in urine

Question 10

Leptosira has________(how many) phases of illness

Answer 10

2

• Early infection: systemic dissemination (leptospiraemic phase)
• Late infection: target organ damage (leptospiruric phase)

Question 11

Organs affected by leptospira….

Answer 11

eyes, brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys

Question 12

Hallmark of Weil’s disease (severe leptospirosis)

Answer 12

liver dysfunction, renal failure, haemorrhagic manifestations

Question 13

Leads to lyme disease

Answer 13

Borrelia species (the hard bodied ticks)

Question 14

Borreli spp which leads to lyme disease

Answer 14

Borrelia bugdorferi (in the US)

Question 15

Risk groups for infection with Borelli?

Answer 15

• Farmers
• Animal workers
• Recreational and occupational exposures

Question 16

A zoonotic infection transmitted by infected arthropod vectors ( hard-bodied ticks)

Answer 16

Lyme disease

Question 17

T/F: Borrelia are a tick species which cause lyme disease

Answer 17

True

Question 18

Borrelia has________(how many) stages of illness?

Answer 18

3

1. Early infection localised ( prevails within 1 month)
2. Early infection disseminated (prevails within 4 months)
3. Late/persistent or chronic infection (after 4 months)

Question 19

Organs affected by Borrelia species…

Answer 19

heart, skin, muscle, CNS and Joints

Question 20

Symptoms seen with the ‘early infection localised’ stage of infection with Borrelia

Answer 20

erythema migrans

Question 21

A cause of genital ulcer disease?

Answer 21

Treponema pallidum

Question 22

Non-sexually transmitted syphilis

Answer 22

Non-venereal syphilis

Question 23

Sexually transmitted syphilis

Answer 23

venereal syphilis

Question 24

The 3 non-venereal syphilises (all are transmitted through direct contact with the lesions)

Answer 24

• Yaws
• Endemic syphilis (Bejel)
• Pinta