Microbiology - chapter 13 - Chlamydia, Rickettsia and Friends Flashcards
what differentiates Chlamydia and Rickettsia from viruses?
They have both DNA and RNA, whereas viruses have either DNA or RNA.
What is an obligate intracellular parasite?
An organism that can only survive by establishing recidence inside animal cells. They need their host’s ATP as an energy source.
The chlamydial life cycle is characterized by these two forms?
1 Elementary body: infectious.
2 Initial body: inhibits phagosome-lysosome fusion, energy parasite.
Name the three most clinically important species of Chlamydia?
Chlamydia trachomatis - infects eyes, genitals and lungs
Chlamydia psittaci - affect lungs
Chlamydia pneumonia - affects lungs
What is a Trachoma?
A type of chronic conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness world wide.
Why are penicillin ineffective against Chlamydia trachomatis?
Chlamydia trachomatis has no peptidoglycan layer, the target of penicillin.
What are the two most common causative agents of NonGonococcal Urethritis?
Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum(normal flora in 60% of healthy sexually active women)
what is atypical pneumonia?
Pnneumonia caused by viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila.
Rickettsia rickettsii is spread by ………… and causes ……..
Rickettsia rickettsii is spread by the wood tick and causes Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Rickettsia prowazekii?
Epidemic typhus. Lice transmit the bacteria, which explains why this little basterd is seen in situations with poor sanitary conditions, e.g. wars. The rickettsia invade endothelial cells and may produce clots and the consequences that follows.
Two Rickettsial diseases associated with poor santiation, e.g. wars?
1 Rickettsia prowazkii - epidemic typhus
2 Bartonella quintana - trench fever
Rickettsia has a tropism for this type of cells?
endothelial cells
Q fever: pathogen and route of spread?
Inhalation of the endospore produced by Coxiella burnetii. Basically it is aerosolized endospores in tick poop on animal hides. Present with abrupt onset of fever, soaking sweats along with pneumonia.
