Other Zoonotic or Vector-borne Bacterial Diseases I

Question 1

Describe the primary ways in which zoonotic infections are transmitted from animals to humans?

Answer 1

Primary through occupational hazards. Like farmers, hunters, vets, or slaughterhouse workers.
Certain recreational activities like drinking unpastuerized milk, swimming, preparing foods or through pets.

Question 2

How is Francisella Tularensis aquired?

Answer 2

Often tick borne
Extremely low infectious dose
Developed into biological warfare asset by japan.
Enters through breaks in skin or through mucous membranes
Can enter through aerosolization and ingestion.

Question 3

What are the characteristics of Francisella Tularensis?

Answer 3

Facultative intracellular gram negative coccobacilli.

Typically grows inside of macrophages.

Question 4

What is the spectrum of disease with Tularensia?

Answer 4

Ulcers and swelling of glands in 75-85% of cases, transmission via aerosol can cause pneumonic disease.
Ingestion can cause symptoms similar to typhoid fever.

Question 5

How is Tularensia diagnosed?

Answer 5

Serology due to a 4 fold rised in titers

Culture on BCYE medium because cysteine is required for growth

Question 6

How is Brucella contracted?

Answer 6

No vector, infects humans through infected milk or milk products.

Question 7

What are the general characteristics of Brucella?

Answer 7

Facultative intracellular parasite of the RES

Question 8

What is the pathogenesis of Brucella?

Answer 8

The parasite enters via the mucous membranes and is engulfed by PMNs and macrophages. It is carried to the lymph nodes where it multiplies within macrophages. It is taken up by phagocytic cells of the RES and either eliminated for causes formation of granulomas which lead to recurrent disease.

Question 9

What are the symptoms of Brucellosis? (Undulant Fever)

Answer 9

Fevers, night sweats, headaches, chills, myalgias, weight loss, no organomegaly

Question 10

What do you know about Bartonella?

Answer 10

Reservoir is Cats

B. Henselae, B. Quintana, and B. Bacilliformis are the three clinically important forms.

Question 11

B. Henselae?

Answer 11

Causese cat scratch disease, transmitted by fleas

Question 12

B. Quintana?

Answer 12

Causes trench fever spread by lice
Reservoir host is humans
Can result in bacillary angiomatosis in immunocompromised host

Question 13

B. Bacilliformis?

Answer 13

Carrion’s disease found only in peru.

Initially causes hemolytic anemia which then becomes verruga peruana (dark lesions on the body)