(Mostly) Sexually Transmitted Diseases Flashcards
(121 cards)
Treponema pallidum is commonly referred to as…
Syphilis
Describe the structure of Treponema pallidum
Long, thin spirochete
- Unseen in light microscope, seen by silver stain
What type of microscope can view Treponema pallidum?
Dark Field Microscope
What surrounds every Treponema pallidum cell?
Glycosaminoglycan sheath
How is Treponema pallidum made motile?
Endoflagella within the periplasm (3 per end)
What is unique about Treponema pallidum’s envelope?
No LPS
Cardiolipin in membrane
Does Treponema pallidum have many outer membrane proteins? Significance of this knowledge?
Few OM proteins
Makes it hard for immune system to find it and make Abs
Method used to culture Treponema pallidum?
None. So far unculturable in lab
Grown in rabbit testes instead
Oxygen metabolism of Treponema pallidum?
Microaerophilic
What is a chancre?
Defined, Unpainful papule at site of infection
Describe the symptoms common to Primary Treponema pallidum infection.
Ulcerated, Chancre, Regional LN swelling
Heals spontaneously, but organisms remain in blood
Describe the clinical presentation of secondary Treponema pallidum infection.
Red macular/macropapular rash anywhere
Condylomas in mount areas
What is unique about the red macular/macropapular rash of Treponema pallidum?
One of few to appear on soles and palms
What is a condyloma?
Raised, White, wart-like papule (seen in Treponema pallidum)
Difference between the early and late latent period?
Early – Within a year of secondary
Late – 1-20+ years
What is tertiary Treponema pallidum response?
Lesions of tissues through body caused by immune response
Why can’t you culture a tertiary Treponema pallidum response?
Treponema pallidum hasn’t been able to be cultured so far
Even if it could, its only immune response at this point, not the actual bacteria
Important causes of vertically transmitted disease
Toxoplasma Other -- HIV, Coxsackie, Chicken Pox, etc. Rubella Cytamegalovieus HErpes Syphilis
Clinical presentation of tertiary Treponema pallidum response?
Gummas Bones: porous, bendable, fragile Heart: aorta swells, ruptures liver CNS
Two manifectstions of Treponema pallidum in the CNS
Brain – General paresis
Spine – tabes dorsalis
Significance of Treponema pallidum in pregnant women?
20% abortion or stillbirth
80% have congenital defects
Primary defects associated with Treponema pallidum transmission in utero? (Name the group name)
Hutchison’s triad
What does Hutchison’s Triad entail?
Blindness
VIII Nerve Deafness
Hutchison’s Teeth
What are Hutchison’s Teeth?
Double pointed incisors