Rhodococcus Flashcards
1
Q
What are the main features of rhodococcus?
A
- Gram +
- aerobic
- faculative intracellular
- mycolic acid in cell wall
- ubiquitous in the environment
1
Q
What animal species does rhodococcus effect?
A
Horses
2
Q
What is the main pathogenesis of rhodococcus?
A
- Bacteria is inhaled in dusty environments
- Has the ability to survive and replicate within macrophages
- They produce virulence factors that help them survive
- then causes necrosis of macrophages
3
Q
What three things predispose a foal to rhodococcus equi?
A
- Age/ being young
- Host defence mechanisms
- Number of bacteria that were inhaled
4
Q
Name three non-specific clinical signs of rhodococcus equi
A
- Tachypnoea
- Pyrexia
- Mucopurulent discharge
5
Q
What four lesions may occur with rhodococcus equi?
A
- Polyarthritis
- Hypopyon
- Pyogranulomas
- Osteomyelitis
6
Q
What two ways can you diagnose Rhodococcus equi?
A
- PCR/ VAP amplification
- Bacterial Culture
7
Q
What species does Virulence-Associated Protein A affect?
A
Horses
8
Q
What species does Virulence-Associated Protein B affect?
A
Pigs
9
Q
What species does Virulence-Associated Protein N affect?
A
Goats
10
Q
What is the purpose of VAP preventing phagolysosome fusion?
A
Prevents the rhodococcus bacteria from being degraded by the lysosome
11
Q
What gross lesions does rhodococcus cause in the skin?
A
- Polyarthritis
- Uveitis
- Pyogranulomas in the skin
- Osteomyelitis
