Microbiology - chapter 14 - Spirochetes

Question 0

Three genera of spirochetes?

Answer 0

1 Treponema
2 Borrelia
3 Leptospira

Question 1

Spirochetes, two unique characteristics?

Answer 1

1 additional phospholipid-rich outer membrane with few expressed proteins = stealth.

2 periplasmic flagella propells the spirochetes forward.

Question 2

Clinical manifestations of syphilis?

Answer 2

Primary - Painless chancre & swelling of regional lymphnode.
Secondary - lesions(hands, soles and mouth) + condyloma latum.
Tertiary - gummatous, cardiovascular or neurosyphilis.

Question 3

Gummatous syphilis, general info?

Answer 3

Occurs 3-10 years after infection in 15% of untreated patients. Gummas(infectious lesions) are found in skin and bone.

Question 4

Cardiovascular syphilis, general info?

Answer 4

chronic inflammation cause destruction of vasa vasorum, leading to necrosis of the media layer of the aorta.

Question 5

What two bacteria cause subacute meningitis with a predominance of lymphocytes?

Answer 5

Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Usually, bacteria cause meningitis with high neutrophil count.

Question 6

What is the Jarisch-Herxheimer phenomenon?

Answer 6

Acute worsening of symptoms immediately after antibiotics are started.

Question 7

Borreliosis: causative agent and three different stages?

Answer 7

Borrelia bugdorferi.

1 early localized stage - Erythema chronicum migrans
2 early disseminated stage - spread to skin, heart, joints and nerves
3 late stage - chronic arthritis and/or neruologic symptoms.