Microbial Diseases of Nervous System & Eyes Pt. 3

Question 1

What is a prion?

Answer 1

Infectious protein

Question 2

Cruetzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD), variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (vCJD), kuru (humans, scrapie (sheep/goats), and mad cow disease (cows) are all what kind of disease?

Answer 2

Spongiform encephalopathies

Question 3

What happens to the brain with spongiform encephalopathies?

Answer 3

Leaves brains full of holes

Question 4

What are the symptoms of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)?

Answer 4

Insomnia, weight loss, memory failure, progressive

Question 5

What causes variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease?

Answer 5

Abnormal form of prion

Question 6

vCJD is considered what kind of disease currently?

Answer 6

Emerging/re-emerging disease

Question 7

How is vCJD acquired?

Answer 7

Eating BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) contaminated beef

Question 8

Signs and symptoms of vCJD are sometimes confused with what other conditions during diagnosis?

Answer 8

Other forms of dementia in elderly

Question 9

How can vCJD be treated and prevented?

Answer 9

No treatment; avoidance of prion contaminated meat

Question 10

What are the signs and symptoms of trachoma?

Answer 10

Dead conjunctiva cells trigger purulent discharge and conjunctival scarring leading to eyelids turning inward, eyelashes abrading, irritation, scarred cornea, and invasion of blood vessels

Question 11

What is the eventual result of trachoma?

Answer 11

Blindness

Question 12

What is the leading cause of nontraumatic blindness in humans?

Answer 12

Trachoma

Question 13

What population is specifically at risk for trachoma?

Answer 13

Children usually during childbirth

Question 14

What is the pathogen responsible for trachoma?

Answer 14

Chlamydia tracomatis

Question 15

How can trachoma occur in adults?

Answer 15

Bacterial transfer from genitals to eyes via fomites or fingers

Question 16

How can trachoma be treated?

Answer 16

Antibiotics and surgical correction of deformities (can sometimes prevent blindness)

Question 17

How is trachoma diagnosed?

Answer 17

Identifying bacteria at site of infection

Question 18

A sty is a form of what condition?

Answer 18

Folliculitis

Question 19

What specific structure is infected with a sty?

Answer 19

Sebaceous glands near the eye

Question 20

What pathogens are responsible for a sty?

Answer 20

Staph aureus (most commonly) and also Staph epidermidis

Question 21

What are the other names for Loa Loa Filariasis?

Answer 21

Subcutaneous filariasis or loiasis

Question 22

Does Loa Loa Filariasis impair vision?

Answer 22

No; can cause pain when moving about the eyeball or across the bridge of the nose

Question 23

What is the classic sign for Loa Loa Filaloriasis?

Answer 23

Calabar swellings (red, itchy swelling below the skin of the eye)

Question 24

What is the pathogen responsible for Loa Loa Filaloriasis?

Answer 24

Nematode (roundworm) Loa Loa

Question 25

Loa Loa Filaloriasis is restricted to what location?

Answer 25

West Africa

Question 26

What are the vectors for Loa Loa Filaloriasis?

Answer 26

Deer fly or Mango fly

Question 27

How is Loa Loa Filaloriasis treated and prevented?

Answer 27

Antihelminthics or surgical methods to remove worm; prevents with antihelminthic prophylaxis

Question 28

What condition is also known as River Blindness?

Answer 28

Onchocerciasis

Question 29

What are the signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis?

Answer 29

Long term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma ultimately leading to blindness

Question 30

What is the pathogen responsible for River Blindness?

Answer 30

Nematode Onchocerca volvulus

Question 31

What is the usual continent where River Blindness is seen?

Answer 31

Africa

Question 32

What is the vector for River Blindness?

Answer 32

Black fly