Reproductive System Diseases

Question 1

Normal flora of the female genital tract

Answer 1

Lactobacillus, diptheriods (Corynebacterium), Strep B

Question 2

Staphylococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome

Symptoms, pathogen, virulence, pathogenesis, treatment

Answer 2

Non-venereal (not an STI)

Symptoms: fever, chills, vomiting, red rash, individuals go into shock if untreated
Pathogen: S.auerus
Virulence: toxins
Pathogenesis: absorption of toxins into blood
Treatment: antimicrobial drugs, using less absorbent tampons reduces risk

Question 3

Gonorrhoea

Symptoms, pathogen, virulence, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment

Answer 3

Bacterial STI

Symptoms: men experience painful urination, females are asymptomatic
Pathogen: Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Gram negative diplococci
Virulence: fimbrae, capsule, endotoxin
Pathogenesis: bacteria attach to epithelia of mucus membranes, incubation for 2-6 days before inflammation
Epidemiology: only occurs in humans
Diagnosis: diplococci in neutrophils from pus sample. Oxidase positive
Treatment: cephalosporins & prevention by safe sex

Question 4

Syphilis

Symptoms, pathogen, virulence, pathogenesis, treatment

Answer 4

Bacterial STI

Symptoms:
Primary: Ulcers at site of infection, 2-6 weeks
Secondary: Rashes/lesions throughout body
Latent: symptoms disappear
Tertiary: occurs later in life (15%), organ damage/death

Pathogen: Treponema pallidum (Gram- helix)
Virulence: hard to identify
Pathogenesis: sexual contact
Treatment: Penicillin G treats all but tertiary

Question 5

Chlamydia

Symptoms, pathogen, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment

Answer 5

Bacterial STI

Symptoms: men have painful urination and pus discharge, women asymptomatic
Pathogen: Chlamydia trachomatis (Gram-)
Pathogenesis: enter through scrapes or cuts
Diagnosis: detection of chlamydial DNA by PCR
Treatment: antimicrobial drugs

Question 6

Chlamydia life cycle

Answer 6

Elementary bodies attach to receptor on host cell, entering via endocytosis.
Elementary bodies convert to reticulate bodies inside vesicle
RBs convert back to EBs which are released from the cell to infect more host cells.

Question 7

Chancroid

Symptoms, pathogen, virulence, treatment

Answer 7

Bacterial STI

Symptoms: soft chancres (ulcers) on men, and painful urination in women
Pathogen: Haemophilus ducreyi (Gram-)
Virulence: toxin that kills epithelial cells
Treatment: antimicrobial drugs

Question 8

Vaginal Candidosis

Symptoms, pathogen, treatment, when does it occur?

Answer 8

Fungal STI

Symptoms: itching, irritation, rash
Pathogen: C.albicans
Treatment: antifungals

Occurs when alterations in vaginal environment allow yeasts to proliferate