Syphilis Flashcards
What is the standard treatment for syphilis?
Penicillin
Why is Treponema pallidum referred to as gram-negative-like?
Its outer membrane is made of GAG instead of LPS
T/F T. pallidum readily takes up stains
FALSE
Need immunofluoresence of dark-field microscopy to visualize
What structure of T. pallidum gives it its corkscrew/slinky motility?
Endoflagella
A number of T. pallidum lipoproteins stimulate what human receptor?
TLR2
How is T. pallidum transmitted?
Via compromised skin or intact mucosal membranes (generally by sexual activity or vertical transmission)
_____ syphilis presents as a painless papule that ulcerates into a chancre 3-4 weeks after infection. The chancre clears w/o treatment within 3-6 weeks.
Primary
What can be seen 7-10 days after chancre formation in primary syphilis?
Regional lymphadenopathy
T/F Primary syphilis has a relatively low infectivity
FALSE
This is a highly infective stage
Where does the characteristic rash of secondary syphilis appear?
All over the body, including n the palms and soles
Usually 2-10 weeks after the chancre from primary syphilis clears up
Patchy alopecia, condyloma lata (granulomatous rxn on mucosal surfaces/tongue), and syphilitic meningitis are complications from _____
Secondary/Systemic syphilis
T/F All forms of syphilis are infections
FALSE
The tertiary stage is not infectious
The presence of granulomatous gummae, CV symptoms (leutic aneurysms in ascending aorta), and neurosyphilis (demyelinating disease, dementia, Argyll Robinson pupil) characterize which stage of syphilis infection?
Tertiary Stage
Treponemes cross the placenta in which weeks of pregnancy?
10th-15th weeks
What three symptoms do infants that survive initial congenital syphilis demonstrate?
- Interstitial keratitis
- Malformed teeth
- Peg shaped, notched incisors
- Facial deformations
