Unit 4 - Treponema and Brachyspira Flashcards
What does Treponema mean?
turning thread
What are the genera Treponema and Brachyspira in regards to oxygen?
anaerobic
What is the shape of the genera Treponema and Brachyspira?
corkscrew
What is used to stain the genera Treponema and Brachyspira?
Crystal violet or Giemsa
What does Brachyspira hyodysenteriae cause?
bloody dysentery of swine
What is the best environment for Brachyspira hyodysenteriae to grow in?
anaerobic at 42 EC for 2-6 days
What does the colony of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae look like?
very flat, clear, and difficult to see with beta hemolysis and a ring phenomenon
How is Brachyspira hyodysenteriae transmitted?
pig to pig via the fecal-oral route
What is Brachyspira hyodysenteriae susceptible to?
disinfectants, heat, and drying but can survive in lagoons for over a year or more
How long can Brachyspira hyodysenteriae survive in the environment?
survival in soil at cool temperatures is 3 months
What is the incubation period of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae?
7-10 days
What is the pathogenesis of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae?
The disease first starts as a diarrhea with the later appearance of mucus in the feces. The organism doesn’t penetrate past the lamina propria and is isolated only from the large intestinal sites. The fecal material may become very watery and bloody and the epithelial lining of the intestine can become so involved itll shed its pseudomembrane
How long does it take for recovery from swine dystentery to occur?
if kept clean and dry they will usually recover but then have 2-3 mor exacerbations of the disease - eventually they will completely recover (1-2 months after initial disease)
What is the clinical course of swine dysentery?
1-4 weeks
What virulence factors does brachyspira hyodysenteriae have?
hemolysin, LPS, and attachment
How is Brachyspira hyodysenteriae diagnosed?
history, clinical signs and gross lesions, demonstration of the organism preferably by isolation and identification
In order to ID Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, what must it be isolated from?
acutely ill, non-medicated pigs
Sows that have recovered from swine dysentery pass their antibody onto their young. What leads to the young succombing to the disease?
stress of weaning
Is there any immunization for swine dysentery?
no
How is swine dysentery treated?
Carbadox and Denegard but they are not able to clear the organism from the pig
What does Brachyspira pilosicoli cause?
porcine intestinal spirochetosis and human intestinal spirochetosis, possibly involved in intestinal infections in other animals
What is the distribution of Brachyspira pilosicoli?
worldwide
What is Brachyspira pilosicoli known as?
weakly beta-hemolytic intestinal spirochete
What is the morphology of Brachyspira pilosicoli?
it is identival to Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
What is the growth of Brachyspira pilosicoli like
it is similar to B. hyodysenteriae in colony characteristics except that it is weakly beta-hemolytic
What does Brachyspira pilosicoli attach to in swine?
It attaches in large numbers to the colonic epithelium by one end of the bacteria cell
What does Brachyspira pilosicoli cause in swine?
diarrheal disease most commonly seen in the immediate postweaning period in pigs but can occur anywhere from 4-20 weeks of age
What clinical signs are associated with Brachyspira pilosicoli in swine?
weight loss, poor growth rate, and diarrhea with occasional flecks of blood
What does Brachyspira pilosicoli attach to in humans?
end-on attachment of large numbers of the organism
What specific human populations are typically infected with Brachyspira pilosicoli?
in people in lesser developed countries and AIDS patients
What does Brachyspira pilosicoli cause in humans?
it may be associated with a variety of intestinal disorders, but is most commonly associated with recal bleeding and chronic diarrhea
Aside from swine and humans, what is Brachyspira pilosicoli associated with in other animals?
intestinal damage in other species especially in dogs
What condition has the genus Treponema been associated with causing?
Hairy heel warts
What is hairy heel warts?
papillomatous digital dermatitis
What Treponema species are commonly found with hairy heel warts?
T. phagedenis, T vincentii, and T. denticola
Where are lesions caused by Treponema typically found?
in the region of the flexor commissure of the interdigital space - one or two hind feet are most commonly involved, although forefeet can be affected
What are the two typical lesions seen with a Treponema infection?
proliferative or wart-like form and erosive/reactive form
Where is the proliferative or wart-like form of a Treponema infection seen?
north america
Where is the erosive/reactive form of a Treponema infection seen?
europe
How is Treponema infection prevented?
good hoof care, keep exposure to a slurry at a minimum, automatic food washing can be beneficial
Is immunization against Treponema effective?
no
How is Treponema infection treated?
clean the lesions with warm, soapy water and a stiff brush followed by a use of topical antibiotic (oxytetracycline powder)
What does Treponema paralius cuniculi cause?
rabit syphilis
How can Treponema paralius cuniculi be visualized?
via dark field microscopy
What does Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum cause?
human syphilus
What does primary syphilis cause?
Chancre
What does secondary syphilis cause?
rash
What does tertiary syphilis cause?
aortic aneurysm and gummaous lesions
What does Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue cause?
yaws
Where is yaws prevalent?
in the tropical regions of Africa, South America, India, Indonesia, and many Pacific islands
When is yaws acquired?
during childhood by direct contact other than sexual contact
What lesions are associated with early stage yaws?
polydactylitis and cutaneous lesions
What lesions are associated with intermediate stage yaws?
crab yaws - lesions on the soles of the feet
What lesions are associated with late stage yaws?
gangosa
How is yaws treated?
with penicillin
What does Treponema pallidum subspecies endemicum cause?
endemic syphilis or bejel which resembles yaws
Where is Treponema pallidum subspecies endemicum infections commonly found?
in areas of the middle east and is transmitted primarily to children by contact in unhygenic conditions
What does Treponema carateum cause?
Pinta
Where are Treponema carateum infections common?
in tropical areas of central and South America
How is Treponema carateum spread?
by non-sexual contact
What lesions are associated with Treponema carateum?
skin lesions that are not granulomatous in nature most commonly on the hands, feet, and scalp
How is Treponema carateum infection treated?
with penicillin
What is oral treponemes?
periodontal disease caused by an overgrowth of Treponema
