Microbial Diseases of the Nervous System Flashcards
what are the symptoms of bacterial meningitis?
sudden high fever and meningeal inflammation
what meningitis pathogen is acquired during birth?
S Agalactiae
what pathogen is present in the throat of 75 percent of humans?
S pneumoniae
what should individuals that are at risk for listeriosis avoid?
high risk foods
how is bacterial meningitis spread?
respiratory droplets but listeria specifically through contaminated foods
how do you treat bacterial meningitis?
with antimicrobial drugs
what are the symptoms of botulism?
blurred visions and progresses to paralysis
what are the three forms of botulism?
food borne, infant and wound
what pathogen causes botulism?
clostridium botulinum
how many cases of food borne and wound botulism in the US per year?
about 50
what is the most common form of botulism in the US?
infant
what are the three approaches to treat botulism?
washing of GI tract, antitoxin, antimicrobials
how do you prevent botulism?
destroy endospores in contaminated food
do not feed infants what and why?
don’t feed them honey because it can lead to floppy baby syndrome
what are the symptoms of tetanus?
prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle and lockjaw
what pathogen causes tetanus?
clostridium tetani
how can someone acquire tetanus?
through a break in skin or mucous membrane
what is the mortality rate of tetanus if left untreated?
50 percent
how is tetanus treated?
with passive immunotherapy and antimicrobials
how is tetanus prevented?
with the TdaP vaccine
virus more readily…?
viruses more readily cross the blood brain barrier
viral meningitis symptoms?
similar to bacterial meningitis but more mild
what causes viral meningitis?
90 percent of cases are caused by enterovirus
how is viral meningitis transmitted?
enter by respiratory or fecal oral route and spread via bloodstream
is there a specific treatment for viral meningitis?
no
what are the four different types of polio?
asymptomatic infections, minor polio, non paralytic polio and paralytic polio
asymptomatic polio
90 percent of cases
minor polio
no specific symptoms
non paralytic polio
muscle spasms and back pain
what pathogen causes polio?
the polio virus
how is polio transmitted?
by drinking contaminated water
how do you prevent polio?
vaccines (Salk and Sabin)
rabies symptoms?
hydrophobia, hallucinations
what pathogen causes rabies?
the rabies virus–> lyssavirus
how is rabies transmitted?
via vite or scratch from an infected animal
the rabies virus does what in the body?
it replicates in muscle cells and then moves into neurons
what is the main source of most rabies infections in humans?
bats
how is rabies treated?
with rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG)
how is rabies prevented?
the Human Diploid Cells Vaccine
what kind of viruses are arboviruses?
they are arthropod borne viruses
how are arboviruses transmitted?
via blood sucking arthropods
what can mosquito borne arboviruses cause?
arboviral encephalitis
what are the symptoms of arboviral encephalitis?
fever, weakness, changes in mental state
arboviruses caused what?
mild cold like symtpoms
what is another name for arboviral encephalitis?
west nile virus
how do you prevent arboviral encephalitis?
by limiting contact with mosquitos
are there vaccines for arboviral encephalitis?
for horses yes. for humans no
primary amebic meningoencephalopathy symptoms?
same as meningitis and encephelitis
what pathogen causes primary amebic meningoencephalopathy ?
acanthamoeba and naegleria
how do you treat primary amebic meningoencephalopathy ?
drugs have limited success
how do you prevent primary amebic meningoencephalopathy ?
avoid contact with contaminated water supplies
where do sensory nerves carry signals to?
carry signals towards the CNS
where do motor nerves carry signals to?
carry signals away from the CNS
what do neuroglia do?
provide support, insulation, nutrients
