Syphilis

Question 1

Match the Treponema-associated diseases (a-d) with the
respective causative organism.
1. _____ T. pallidum
2. _____ T. pallidum (variant)
3. _____ T. pertenue
4. _____ T. carateum
a. Yaws
b. Syphilis
c. Pinta
d. Beje

Answer 1

1. b
2. d
3. a
4. c

Question 2

Match the following stages of syphilis with the appropriate
signs and symptoms.
5. _____ Primary syphilis
6. _____ Secondary syphilis
7. _____ Latent syphilis
8. _____ Late (tertiary) syphilis
a. Diagnosis only by serologic methods
b. Presence of gummas
c. Development of a chancre
d. Hutchinsonian triad
e. Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in
most patients

Answer 2

5. c
6. e
7. a
8. b

Question 3

Which of the following is a term for nontreponemal
antibodies produced by an infected patient against
components of their own or other mammalian cells?
a. Autoagglutinins
b. Reagin antibodies
c. Alloantibodies
d. Nonsyphilis antibodies

Answer 3

b. Reagin antibodies

Question 4

Match the following:
10. _____ FTA-ABS test
11. _____ TP-PA test
12. _____ RPR test
a. Treponemal method
b. Nontreponemal method

Answer 4

10. a
11. a
12. b

Question 5

In the RPR procedure, a false-positive reaction can result
from all the following except:
a. Infectious mononucleosis
b. Leprosy
c. Rheumatoid arthritis
d. Streptococcal pharyngitis

Answer 5

d. Streptococcal pharyngitis

Question 6

The first diagnostic blood test for syphilis was the:
a. VDRL
b. Wassermann
c. RPR
d. Colloidal gold

Answer 6

b. Wassermann

Question 7

Syphilis was initially treated with:
a. Fuller’s earth
b. Heavy metals (e.g., arsenic)
c. Sulfonamides (e.g., triple sulfa)
d. Antibiotics (e.g., penicillin)

Answer 7

b. Heavy metals (e.g., arsenic)

Question 8

Direct examination of the treponemes is most often
performed by:
a. Light microscopy
b. Darkfield microscopy
c. VDRL testing
d. RPR testing

Answer 8

b. Darkfield microscopy

Question 9

Pathogenic treponemes _______________ cultivatable
with consistency in artificial laboratory media.
a. Are
b. Are not

Answer 9

b. Are not

Question 10

In infected blood, T. pallidum does not appear to survive
at 4° C (39 ° F) for longer than:
a. 1 day
b. 2 days
c. 3 days
d. 5 days

Answer 10

c. 3 days

Question 11

The primary incubation period for syphilis (T. pallidum)
is usually about:
a. 1 week
b. 2 weeks
c. 3 weeks
d. 4 weeks

Answer 11

c. 3 weeks

Question 12

The stage of syphilis that can be diagnosed only by
serologic (laboratory) methods is the:
a. Incubation phase
b. Primary phase
c. Secondary phase
d. Latent phase

Answer 12

d. Latent phase

Question 13

Immunocompetent patients infected with T. pallidum
produce:
a. Specific antibodies against T. pallidum
b. Nonspecific antibodies against the protein antigen
group common to pathogenic spirochetes
c. Reagin antibodies
d. All of the above

Answer 13

d. All of the above