Microbiology: Chlamydiae Flashcards
What type of organism is chlamydiae?
Shape?
G(-) obligate intracellular bacterium
Rod
How is chlamydiae transmitted?
through the air
does not require a bite to transfer
What does chlamydia psittaci cause?
ornithosis
- parrot fever
- psittacosis
- a form of pneumonia
- zoonotic
What symptoms does chlamydia psittaci?
- fever
- headache
- chills
How does chlamydia psittaci affect birds?
infected birds have the organism spread throughout body
How is chlamydia psittaci transmitted for birds?
through feces
How can chlamydia psittaci exist in birds?
- as a latent infection
- become overt when birds are stressed
- crowded, unsanitary conditions
When does chlamydia psittaci show up in birds?
after or during transport
Disease in both birds and humans can be ____ to ____.
mild
fatal
How do humans get pneumonia from chlamydia psittaci?
by inhalation of fecal material
What is used in humans to cure/treat chlamydia psittaci?
tetracycline
How is chlamydia pneumoniae spread?
respiratory secretions
What does chlamydia pneumoniae cause?
mild walking pneumonia
Who is affected by chlamydia pneumoniae?
affects young adults
college students
What are the symptoms caused by chlamydia pneumoniae?
fever
headache
unproductive cough
How is chlamydia pneumoniae treated?
tetracycline
erythromycin
Where was chlamydia pneumoniae first observed?
at UW in 1983
What is coxiella burnetii also known as?
Q Fever
What kind of organism is coxiella burnetii?
- obligate intracellular parasite similar to chlamydia and rickettsia
- zoonotic
How does coxiella burnetii survive in the environment?
resistant in environment
How is coxiella burnetii transmitted?
through the air
What are the symptoms of Q Fever (coxiella burnetii)?
- fever for 1-2 weeks
- chills
- chest pain
- severe headache
- can cause endocarditis
How fatal is coxiella burnetii? (Q Fever)
rarely fatal
What is the vector that helps transmits coxiella burnetii? To what animal?
arthropod vector transmits pathogen to cattle
How do cattle shed coxiella burnetii?
- feces
- urine
- milk
How is coxiella burnetii spread to humans?
ingesting unpasteurized milk and by inhaling aerosols of the microbe
What temperatures can coxiella burnetii survive in and for how long? How does it survive?
60° C
2 hours
endospore resting stage
How is coxiella burnetii treated in humans?
- tetracycline
- lincomycin
- 12 months
