Mycobacterium and Spirochaetes

Question 1

How do we stain mycobacterium?

Answer 1

Cell wall has mycolic acid.

Ziehl-Neelsen stain is used - carbol fuchsin. Stains it red.

Question 2

What causes tuberculosis and what is the timeline for presentation/

Answer 2

Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Primary TB symptoms appear within 2 years, secondary appear years later.

Question 3

What is MDR-TB and XDR-TB?

Answer 3

Multiple drug resistant TB and extensive drug resistant TB

Question 4

What disease is caused by bacteria classed as spirochaetes?

Answer 4

Syphilis

Question 5

What bacteria causes syphilis?

Answer 5

Treponema pallidum

Question 6

Describe the stages of syphilis.

Answer 6

Primary syphilis - a chancre at inoculation site.

Secondary syphilis - skin rash, condyloma lata (warty lesions), mucous patches.

Tertiary syphilis - three forms: CNS, cardiovascular and gummatous

CNS (common) - damage to neurons: sensory ataxia and cerebral atrophy.

CVD - Damage to aorta and vessels

Gummatous - Lesions of skin, bones and viscera

Question 7

What syphilis stage has the highest risk of transmission to congenital syphilis?

Answer 7

Primary or secondary stages are the most transmissible.