Spriochetes and Vibrios Flashcards
By definition, Spirochetes
have a wide variety of transmission methods, (sexual, vector, env’t), can easily cross the bloodstream and the blood brain barrier, are focused on immune evasion, they are not very antigenic, little acquired antibiotic resistance
what can be useful for diagnosis
Eye exam and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction to treatment
why is diagnosis challenging
disease occurs in phases which may be separated by months or years (meticulous history!), treponema are too small/fine to see by standard microscopy, Lyme Disease has no quick&clear lab test.
what are the 3 stages of syphillis
- painless chancre 2. rash or many types with flu like symptoms (meningitis possible) 3. CNS or heart complications, or latency (gummas possible)
what is important to know about Lyme disease
it is tick borne, it takes 24 hours to transmit once its landed
what are the 3 stages of Lyme disease
- skin infection (bull’s eye rash) 2. immune / neurological issues 3. Chronic lyme with more immune/neurological issues, fibromyaglia
By definition, Vibrios are
curved gram negative rods, that are motile, many are ocean dwelling , some are halophiles, salt-loving, have GI virulence factors
what disease do they cause
fecal-oral gastroenteritis (V. Cholera) , wound infections and peptic ulcers (H.pylori)
V.Cholera, its lifecycle, pathogenic strains
it has a complete planktonic life cycle outside human host, pathogenic strains have the O1 genetic marker of colonization by lysogenic bacteriophage, carries virulence factors
transmission of V.cholera and stomach acid
Transmitted to humans by fecal-oral route, usually killed by stomach acid, if survives, secretes mucinase to attach to and colonize the intestine
Once V.Cholera colonizes the intestine, it
secretes choleragen, an A-B subunit enterotoxin that interferes with signal transduction to cause massive watery diarrhea.
cholera is best treated by
first restoring electrolyte and water imbalance, REHYDRATE, then antibiotics, if necessary
