Park lec 3 Flashcards
List different classes of pathogens.
prions
Viruses
Bacteria
Fungi
parasites
what are viruses
- Obligate intracellular pathogens
- Capsid (protein coats) and genome (RNA or DNA)
- Some are enclosed within an envelope derived from the cytoplasmic membrane of the host cells
- Cause lysis and death of the host cell during replication
- Some remain in a latent, nonreplicating state for long periods without causing disease
–> Varicella zoster virus - Some cause cancer
–> Human papillomavirus
what are bacteria
- Prokaryotic
- Microscopic shapes
- Spherical
–> Diplococci, staphylococci, streptococci
- Elongated
–> bacilli
- Helical
–> Spirilla (spirochete)
what is spirochetes
- type of bacteria
- anaerobic
- Ex: borrelia burgdorferi (lyme disease), treponema pallidum (syphilis)
what is mycoplasmas
- Much smaller than other bacteria
- No cell wall - resistant to cell-wall inhibiting antibiotics (ex. penicillins)
- Ex: mycoplasma pneumoniae (pneumonia)
what is rickettsiaceae
- type of bacteria
- Obligate intracellular pathogens
- Transmitted via arthropod vectors (mites, fleas, ticks, lice)
- Ex: rickettsia rickettsia (Rocky Mountain spotted fever)
what is chlamydiaceae
- type of bacteria
- Obligate intracellular pathogens
- Transmitted via person-to-person contact
- Ex: chlamydia trachomatis - sexually transmitted; cause conjunctivitis in newborns
what are the two types of fungi
superficial mycoses and systemic mycoses
what is superficial mycoses
- dermatophytosis
- Ringworm, athletes foot (tinea pedis), and jock itch (tinea cruris)
- caused by dermatophytes whose infection is limited to the cooler cutaneous surfaces
what is systemic mycoses
- Serious fungal infections of deep tissue (rare)
- Candidiasis (yeast infection) - opportunistic infection of candida albican, which is commensal flora in skin, mucous membranes, and GI tract
- aspergillosis - a lethal form of pneumonia caused by aspergillus, a common mold in people with lung diseases or immunocompromised patients
what is fungi
- Intact immune mechanisms and competitions for nutrients provided by the bacterial flora normally keep colonizing fungi in check
- A disease or an antibiotic therapy can upset the balance, permitting opportunistic infections
what are the 3 types of parasites
protozoa, helminths, and parasitic arthropods
what are protozoa
- Unicellular animals
- Ex: plasmodium (malaria) - vector-bone (mosquito)
- Ex: entamoeba histolytica (amebic dysentery, or amoebiasis), giardia duodenalis (giardiasis) - contaminated water and food
what are helminths
- Wormlike parasites
- Ex: roundworms, tapeworms, flukes
- Transmission primarily through ingestion of fertilized eggs (ova) or the penetration of infectious larval stages through the skin
what are parasitic arthropods
- Ectoparasites - mites ( scabies ), chiggers, lice (head,body,pubic) and fleas
- May serve as vectors of other infectious diseases, such as bubonic plague (fleas)
what are the different modes of transmissions from pathogens
penetrations, direct contact, indigestion, inhalation
describe penetrations
- Any disruption may allow the invasion of pathogens, which normally cannot penetrate intact skin or mucous membranes
- Ex: abrasions, burns, needles, insect, and animal bites
what are the two routes of direct contact
sex and congenital infections
describe sexually transmitted infections
- Transmitted by the exposure of the intact skin or membrane to pathogens
- Ex: gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, and genital herpes
describe congenital infections
- Infection of a child during gestation or birth from mother (vertical transmission)
- Ex: Toxoplasmosis, Others (syphilis, varicella zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus infection, and Herpes simplex virus (TORCH infection) and HIV
describe ingestion
- Cholera, typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, food poisoning, etc.
- The low pH of the gastric acid acts as a barrier for many pathogens, but some are resistant to the low pH (ex: shigella and giardia) → differences in the infectious dose
- The normal bacterial flora of the bowel compete with pathogens
describe inhalation
- Bacterial pneumonia, meningitis, and tuberculosis
- Viral infections such as measles, mumps, chickenpox, flu, common cold, and COVID
- The respiratory tract is equipped with multiple-tiered defense system (mucous membrane, coughing, antibodies, and enzymes, phagocytosis, etc)
- Smoking and diseases such as cystic fibrosis impair the defense system
what are the types of sources for parasites to get in
endogenous, exogenous, person, fomites, animal, vector, place
describe endogenous sources
Opportunistic infection acquired from the host’s own microbial flora