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Clinical Microbiology > Spirochetes > Flashcards

Spirochetes Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

Spirochetes description

A 
Gram negative
Anaerobic
Helically coiled body (spiral shaped)
Motile (corkscrew movement)
Most are free living
Some are part of the oral flora
Some are pathogens
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2
Q

What direction of rotation will generate a

  1. Run
  2. Tumble
A
  1. Counterclockwise

2. Clockwise

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3
Q

Periplasm

A

Between cytoplasmic and outer membrane

Where the flagella is

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4
Q

Spirochete for

  1. Leptospirosis
  2. Syphilis
  3. Lyme disease
A
  1. Leptospira spp
  2. Treponema pallidum
  3. Borrelia burgdorferi
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5
Q

Examples of a
1. pathogenic
2. non-pathogenic
Leptospira spp

A
  1. L. interrogans

2. L. biflexa

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6
Q

Leptospira natural habitat

A 
Stagnant fresh water
Shallow lakes, ponds, puddles
High humidity
Neutral pH
Able to grow at low temps (11-13 degC) but optimal growth at higher temps (28-30 degC)
Usually in tropical areas
Seasonal cases in NA
Rodents are primary host
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7
Q

Leptospirosis transmission to humans

A

Humans are accidental host
Ingestion or contact with water/soil contaminated by animal urine
From breaks in the skin or mucus membranes

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8
Q

Leptospirosis symptoms

A

Wide range of symptoms so often a missed diagnosis
Flu like symptoms (fever, chills, myalgias, headache)
Prognosis is generally good
Untreated can progress and mimic other diseases (high fever, headache, chills, muscle aches, vomitting, jaundice, red eyes, ab pain, diarrhea, rash)
Can be life threatening if not treated promptly (meningitis, resp disease, liver failure, kidney damage, death)

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9
Q

Leptospirosis treatment (3)

A

Aminoglycosides
Doxycycline
Beta lactams

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10
Q

For the first 7-10 days leptospirosis is found ___, then it moves ____

A

First in the blood
Then moves to kidneys and found in urine
Can do PCR from either of these stages
Then diagnosis with antibody response

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11
Q

How do you diagnose leptospirosis?

A

Serology!

Can do PCR on blood on urine if you catch disease early enough

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12
Q

4 stages of syphilis

A
  1. Primary: chancre
  2. Secondary: rash
  3. Latent: asymptomatic
  4. Tertiary (gumatous, CV, neurosyphilis)
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13
Q

Chancre

A 
Primary syphilis
Painless ulcer
0.3 to 3 cm
Not itchy, clean base, and sharp borders
Contact leads to infection in >50% of cases
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14
Q

Syphilis Rash

A 
Variable presentations (diffuse, maculopapular, pustular)
But will see it on the palms and feet - good clue!
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15
Q

Latent Stage syphilis

A

Defined as having serologic proof of infection without symptoms of disease
Early latent: less than one year after secondary (asymptomatic)
Late latent: >1 year after secondary
Most people remain asymptomatic for years without treatment

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16
Q

3 types of tertiary syphilis

A
  1. Gummatous (15%): soft, tumor-like balls of inflammation (skin, bone, liver, etc)
  2. Neurosyphilis (6.5%)
  3. Cardiovascular (10%)
    No transmission at these stages!
17
Q

2 ways to transmit syphilis

A 
Sexual contact with an infected person
Vertical transmission (crosses placenta and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital defects)
18
Q

Early symptoms of congenital syphilis

A 
Hepatosplenomegaly
Rash
Fever
Neurosyphilis
Pneumonitis
19
Q

Late symptoms of congenital syphilis

A 
Untreated, get deformations
Saddle nose
Hutchison teeth
Clutton's joints
Saber shin
20
Q

Treatment for syphilis

A

Intramuscular or IV penicillin
Benzathine (IM) - first and secondary stages
PenG (IV) - for neurosyphilis
Alternatives: doxycycline

21
Q

Syphilis diagnosis in general

A

Serology!

22
Q

2 types of serologic tests for syphilis

A

Non-treponemal

Treponemal

23
Q

Non-treponemal tests (flocculation test)

A

Treponemes induce damage to the host cell
Body produces anti-cardiolipin antibodies
Interacts with lecithin-cholesterol-cardiolipin
So you’re detecting antibodies to the damage

24
Q

2 types of Non-treponemal tests

A
  1. Rapid Plasma Reagin

2. Venereal Disease Research Laboratory

25
Q

2 disadvantages for non-treponemal serology

A
  1. Insensitive (for early and late disease)

2. False positive reactions can occur (need confirmation)

26
Q

2 advantages to non-treponemal serology

A

Qualitative (rapid, inexpensive, easy to perform)

Quantitative (used to follow response to therapy)

27
Q

Treponemal serology

A

Measure antibodies directed against T pallidum antigens
Fluorescent, agglutination, EIA, recombinant immunoblot
Reactive for life, even after treatment
False positives can still occur (endemic treponemes)
False negative results may occur early in disease

Clinical Microbiology (25 decks)

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