Spirochetes Flashcards
How do you characterize the structure of spirochetes
- tightly coiled; corkscrew like
- have outer membrane, endoflagella, cell wall & membrane
Most important structure spirochetes use to move
Axial filament (endoflagella)
Staining techniques used to visualize spirochetes
- carbol fuchsin
- giemsa
- silver impregnation
Causative agent of Lyme disease
Borrelia burgdorferi
Most important clinical symptoms of dogs w/ lyme disease
- chronic arthritis
- renal failure (esp. in labs and goldens)
- polyarthropathy
- fever
- swollen lymph nodes
Clinical signs seen in USA vs Europe/Japan
- US: arthritis
- Japan/Europe: CNS signs
What plays an important role in epidemiology of Borelliosis
- arthropod transmission (ticks)
How long must ticks stay attached to skin to transmit Borrelia
- 48 hrs
What life stage do ticks spread borrelia
- adults
- ixodes nymphs
Why is culturing so difficult in borreliosis & not routinely used?
Extremely long generation time
Why is a C6 antibody test highly specific for B. Burgdorferi
- no rxn w/ other spirochetes
- distinguishes between vaccinated and natural infection
- detects presence of borrelia outer protein
What test is recommended for early detection of lyme disease in K9s
C6 antibody test
Lyme disease control/prevention
- doxycycline PO: only for dogs w/ clinical signs
- NSAID for joint pain
- monitor asymptomatic seropositive dogs
- Vx high risk dogs
- avoid tick bites w/ topical fipronil, permethrin, or amitraz
Animal that is most prominent reservoir for Brachyspira hydodysentriae & describe their natural habitat
- swine
- reside in intestines (infects crypts of liberkuhn and goblet cells)
What is the reason for acute bloody diarrhea in Brachyspira hydodysentriae infections
- invades crypts of liberkuhn and goblet cells (colonic mucosa)
