salmonella Flashcards
characteristics of salmonella
- gram neg
- rod shaped
- facultatively anaerobic
- motile with peritrichous flagella
- non lactose fermenter
is salmonella a zoonotic pathogen?
yes
where does salmonella naturally reside?
GI tract of all animals, including fish, and reptiles. Very hardy animals
what are salmonella’s antigenic characteristics?
- O-antigen
- H-antigen
- Vi (virulence or capsular) - S. Dublin
which subspecies of salmonella is responsible for 99% of animal and human infections?
subspecies 1 (enterica)
what is the mode of infection of salmonella?
- oral transmission
- transovarian transmission (ovary to egg in poultry (yolk))
- flies
what is a predisposing factor for salmonella
STRESS
-shipping, cold, overcrowding, surgery, antimicrobial therapy, etc
what are two major sources of acquiring salmonella?
infected animals and asymptomatic carriers
what are the virulence factors of salmonella?
- enterotoxins
- cytotoxins
- LPS
- flagella
- siderophore
- heat shock proteins
what are the characteristics of the enterotoxins of salmonella?
- cholera-like; (LT)
- heat labile
- induces fluid secretions
what are the characteristics of the cytotoxins of salmonella?
- damage intestinal cells
- three types:
1. heat labile
2. low MW protein
3. cell associated hemolysin
what are the characteristics of the LPS of salmonella?
- mutants that lack LPS are less virulent
- cause vascular damage and thrombosis in the intestine
- responsible for systemic signs: fever, DIC, circulatory collapse, and shock
what are the characteristics of the siderophores of salmonella?
-iron chelators
what are the characteristics of the HSPs of salmonella?
- outer membrane proteins produces in response to stress
- essential for the survival in macrophages
what are the two types of salmonella infections?
- intestinal infections
- systemic infections
what is the pathogenesis of intestinal infections?
- colonization of the intestine
- invasion and damage of the intestinal epithelium
- stimulation of fluid production and excretion
what is the colonization of the intestine
- adherence to the enterocytes (receptor mediated)
- larger numbers of organisms are required to initiate the disease
- stress is a critical factor