Spirochetes

Question 1

General Characteristics of Spirochetes

and 3 genera

Answer 1

• G- bacilli, axial fibrils/flagella like organelles with outher sheath
• Propel by rotation

Genera: Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira

Question 2

Treponema: Basics

type, where

Answer 2

Type: rarely cultured, anaerobically, pointed straight ends, thin tight coils

Habitat: humans natural host, can be normal flora of oral cav. or GU tract

Question 3

Treponema Pallidum: Basics

trans, virulence

Answer 3

Transmission: sexual through mucous membrane or abrasions, transplacenta

Virulence: outer membrane proteins for adherence, fibronectin to protect against phagocyt.

Question 4

Treponema Pallidum: Syphillis

3 phases

Answer 4

Primary syphilis
- Painless lesion, syphilitic chancre, PMNs migrate to area of inoculation

Secondary syphilis
- Systemic spread to lymph nodes, liver, joints
- Flu like, anorexia, swollen lymph nodes, general rash on soles and palms

Tertiary syphilis
- Years or decades later, most fatal
- Damage pockets in tissues, gumma lesions, destructive
- Lesions can be in CNS, neurosyphilis, heart or aneurysms

Not infectious

Question 5

Treponema Pallidum: Syphilis Congenital

Answer 5

• Stillborns
• Infected newborns can be asymptomatic
• Then start to have organ failure, deformities, deafness
• Thick skin, cracking, notched incisors Hutchinson’s teeth

Question 6

Borrelia: General Characteristics

Answer 6

Arthropod borne
3-10 loose coils

• Can grow in culture, microaerophilic, complex nutritional requirements

Question 7

Borrelia Infection Basics

4 species and their infections

Answer 7

Borrelia recurrentis: relapsing fever, body louse-borne, WWI trench fever
Borrelia hermsii & B. turicatae: western states, high elevations, relapsing fever, tickborne
B. borgdorferi: lyme disease, ticks

Question 8

Borrelia Burgdorferi: Basics

where, trans

Answer 8

Habitat: mouse and deer reservoir
- NE and mid Atlntc states, upper midwest states

Transmission: zoonosis, nymph/adult phase of hard ticks, tick must be attached for 36-48 hours to transmit

Question 9

Tick Borne Relapsing Fever Basics

Answer 9

Symptoms: high fever, vomiting, chills
Febrile episodes: chill phase high fever, delirium, flush phase with drenching sweats with fever

Question 10

Tick Lifecycle

Answer 10

Egg
Larva (blood meal)
Nymph (must take blood meal)
Adult (females need blood for eggs)

Question 11

Borrelia Burgdorferi: Lyme Disease

infection, epidem.

Answer 11

Infection
- Red expanding “bulls eye”rash, fever, aches, swollen LNs

Later symptoms
- Facial or Bell’s palsy, other red lesions on body
- Meningitis, stiff neck, headaches
- Swollen knees and large joints, nerve pain, heart palpitations

Question 12

Leptospira: Basics

characteristics, species, where, trans

Answer 12

Characteristics
- Tight coil, flexible, hooked ends
- Species is L. interrogans
- Obligate aerobes

Habitat
- Animal: dogs, rats
- Renal tubule colonization

Transmission
- Zoonotic, occupational exposure
- Direct urine or blood contact, or indirect with contam. water

Question 13

Leptospira Infection

Answer 13

Most are asymptomatic, or self limiting acute febrile illness

Severe disease
- Biphasic
- Septicemic phase: 2-20 days after, fever, eye pain, sometimes rash
- Immune phase: IgM formation with or without meningitis, Weil’s disease: renal hepatic failure, myocarditis, death

Question 14

Treatment for Syphilis

Answer 14

Penicillin G

Question 15

Lyme disease treatment

Answer 15

Antibiotics in early stages
If given later, can have recurrent symptoms

Question 16

Leptospira treatment

Answer 16

Hospital for supportive therapy