Treponema pallidum

Question 1

Treponema pallidum is found? causes?

Answer 1

• humans

- STD

Question 2

What type of microscopy is used for Treponema pallidum

Answer 2

1. dark field microscopy

Question 3

Is Treponema pallidum gram positive or negative? shape?

Answer 3

• Gram negative

- thick rigid spirals

Question 4

Is Treponema pallidum microaerophilic or facultative anaerobe?

Answer 4

• microaerophilic

Question 5

T/F: Treponema pallidum is Sensitive to low temperatures

Answer 5

F

- Treponema pallidum is sensitive to high temperatures

Question 6

What are the clinical manifestations of Treponema pallidum?

Answer 6

1. Syphilis a. primary stage: painless chancre
   b. secondary stage: palm & sole rash,
   painless wart-like lesion in moist areas
   eg. vulva, scrotum (condyloma laturn),
   CNS, eyes, bones, kidneys, or joints
   may be involved c. latent stage: 25% may relapse back to 2° d. tertiary stage (33%): gummas of skin
   and bone, CV syphilis, neurosyphilis
   (Argyll-Robertson pupil) e. congenital: contracted in-utero (tx w/in
   first four months)

Question 7

What are the treatments for Treponema pallidium

Answer 7

1. penicillin G 2. erythromycin 3. doxycycline * Jarisch-herxheimer rxn: acute
   worsening of sx after antibiotics
   are started