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)
Virulence factor responsible for acute bloody diarrhea in brachyspira hyodysenteriae infection
Flagella
Why is there an absence of brachyspira hydodysenteriae infections in gnotobiotic pigs inoculated w/ the bacteria
B. Hydodysenteriae needs presence of normal gut bacteria to grow
Microscopy type used to visualize Borrelia
Dark field
