Systemic Spirochetes

Question 1

Characteristics of Spirochetes

Answer 1

spiral-shaped organisms, corkscrew motility, don’t gram stain

Question 2

Lyme Disease: pathogen, stages (3), therapy

Answer 2

Borrelia Burgdorferi
S1: localized infection
S2: annular skin lesion, systemic symptoms
S3: arthritis, meningocephalitis, neuropathies
Treatment: doxycycline

Question 3

Southern Tick-Associated rash illness (STARI)

Answer 3

similar to Lyme disease

Lone Star Tick: amblyomma americanum

Question 4

Relapsing Fever: 2 types

vector and pathogen

Answer 4

Lice-borne: borrelia recurrentis

Tick-borne: Borrelia hermsii

Question 5

Leptospirosis: vector, presentation

Answer 5

Leptospira
Vector: Rodents, small mammals excrete it in urine
Presentation: acute febrile illness, jaundice, renal failure, meningitis

Question 6

Genera of spirochetes:

Answer 6

Treponema, Borrelia, Leptospira

Question 7

Erythema migrans, recurrent arthritis.

Disease - pathogen - transmission - treatment

Answer 7

Lyme Disease
Borrelia burgdorferi
Ticks (lxodes scapularis)
doxycycline

Question 8

Recurrent high fever

Disease - pathogen - transmission

Answer 8

Relapsing fever
Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia recurrentis
Ornithodoros ticks, human body louse

Question 9

Chancre, tabes dorsalis, aortitis.

Disease - pathogen - transmission

Answer 9

Syphilis
Treponema pallidum
Sexual contact

Question 10

acute fever, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice, renal involvement, meningitis

Answer 10

Leptospirosis
Leptospira spp.
Contact with infected rodents/mammals or their urine.