Spirochetes

Question 0

Three genus’s of spirochetes that cause human disease are:

Answer 0

1. Treponema - syphillus, yaws, pinta
2. Borrelia - relapsing fever & lyme
3. Leptospira - leptospirosis

Question 1

T/F: Spirochetes are Gm negative and have flagella

Answer 1

TRUE

Question 2

T/F: syphilis cannot be seen by gram staining

Answer 2

True; it is only .2 microns wide, too small for the resolving power of the light microscope.

It can be visualized with darkfield microscopy, immunofluorescence, silver salt deposition, or EM

Question 3

How is treponema pallidum kept:

Answer 3

In very rich media under anaerobic, motile conditions. CANNOT BE GROWN IN CULTURE

Question 4

T/F: Treponema pallidum can be killed by soap and water but not heat or drying

Answer 4

False, All of those things will kill syphilis (heat, dry, and rinse syphilis dicks)

Question 5

T/F: Treponema pallidum can be stored live at -80 C for many years

Answer 5

True

Question 6

Treponema pallidum transmission modes: (3)

Answer 6

1. Direct genital contact or mucous membranes (not if late stage of infection)
2. Mother to fetus ->still birth, abortion, syphilis at birth
3. Transfusion (RARE) organisms only survive 24 hr in blood, must be a fresh transfusion to transmit this way

Question 7

Incubation period for treponema pallidum is _______

Answer 7

2-6 weeks

Question 8

Primary lesion of syphilis usually occurs at ______ weeks

Answer 8

This is called the CHANCRE and appears at 1-4 weeks, along with focal lymphadenopathy.

Question 9

Secondary lesions of syphilis occur when:

Answer 9

Organisms have disseminated -> generalized skin rash and mucosal lesions erupt at 2 weeks -20 days after the primary lesion. This phase may cause arthritis, renal dysfunction. Mucosal lesions are highly infectious.

Question 10

Tertiary lesions of treponema pallidum infection may cause:

Answer 10

CNS lesion or AORTIC VALVE lesion. Occurs years after infection, damage due to hypersensititvity.

Question 11

What is Wasserman Antibody

Answer 11

Reacts with specific lipid; cardiolipin.

Positive in serological tests in the late primary phase of syphilis

Question 12

Modern tests for treponema pallidum infection:

Answer 12

First: VDRL - a flocculation (clumping) test with cardiolipin
To confirm:
1. FTA-ABS (flourescent treponenal antibody - absorption test)
2. Microhemagglutination - RBC coated with T-Pallidum Ag + serum
3. ELISA
4. TPI (treponema pallidum immobilization) Ab from patient rx w/ living pallidum = loss of motility

Question 13

T/F: PCR can also be used to diagnose syphilis

Answer 13

FALSE. Primers specific to syphilis have not been tested to diagnostic use.

Question 14

What is the consequence of mononucleosis or malaria in regard to syphilis?

Answer 14

A syphilis test may be a false positive if the patient has mono or malaria

Question 15

Antibiotic treatment for syphilis

Answer 15

PENICILLIN
No resistant organism found
Tetracycline or erythromycin also can be used.

Question 16

Vaccine for syphilis?

Answer 16

NO.

Question 17

Yaws

Answer 17

A tropical disease caused by another treponema; T. pertenue.

Has close antigen to T. pallidum. Non venereal transmission via skin sores. Patients will be positive for syphilis test.

Question 18

Bejel

Answer 18

A disease like yaws found in syria. Caused by T. pallidum subspecies endemicium. Treat w/ penicillin.

Question 19

Pinta

Answer 19

Disease of central/south america caused by T. carateum. Causes flat non-ulcerating lesions. Use penicillin.

Question 20

Relapsing fever is caused by:

Answer 20

any of several Borrelia species, often B. Recurrentis or Hernsii.

Question 21

Course of relapsing fever:

Answer 21

1. Tick/rodent transmission
2. Fever 4-5 days
3. Afebrile after 7-10 days
4. Fever reappears
5. 3-10 relapses occur before full recovery

Question 22

What is responsible for the relapses of relapsing fever?

Answer 22

Variable membrane proteins encoded on linear plasmid

Question 23

Borrelia Burgdorferi causes:

Answer 23

Lyme disease, the most common tick borne disease in the US 8000/Year.

Question 24

What is the main reservoir for borrelia burgdorferi?

Answer 24

White footed mouse. Tx to human from mouse by tick

Question 25

Virulent Borrelia Burgdorferi carries:

2 quantities of things

Answer 25

7 linear plasmids and 2 circular plasmids

Question 26

3 Stages of pathogenesis for B. Burgdorferi:

Answer 26

1. Papule w/ expanding erythema 3-14 days after bite. Fever, HA, stiff neck, malaise
2. Neuro/Cardio involvement
3. Migrating episodes of arthritis (weeks to months after tick bite; may last years)

Question 27

Diagnosis of Lyme?

Answer 27

Based on symptoms; ELISA available too

Question 28

Treatment for lyme

Answer 28

Tetracycline

Amoxicillin for kids

Question 29

T/F: There is a vaccine for lyme

Answer 29

False-ish.

Once was a vaccine containing outer surface protein (OspA) but it is no longer available

Question 30

T/F: B. Burgdorferi does NOT require iron

Answer 30

True,, it is unique in that it does not exhibit iron uptake, though it does have manganese requiring enzymes.

Question 31

Leptospirosis is an uncommon disease transmitted by _____ through _______

Answer 31

rats dogs animals through urine

Leptopissssssssosis

Question 32

T/F: Leptospira has only 1 serotype

Answer 32

False, it has many

Question 33

Leptospira pathogenesis: after entering blood, what organs does it invade?

Answer 33

Kidney, Liver, Meninges, conjunctiva

Question 34

Sx of leptospirosis

Answer 34

muscular pain, HA, fever, chills…lasts for a few weeks

Question 35

Weil’s disease

Answer 35

Infectious jaundice caused by one serotype of leptospira. Causes renal failure and hepatic injury. Fatal 25%.

Question 36

Treatment for leptospirosis

Answer 36

Penicillin, erythromycin, tetracylcines.

NO VACCINE