Zoonotic and Vector-borne Bacterial Infections

Question 1

Anthrax:
Gram stain
Shape
Aerobic ability?
Spore formation?

Answer 1

Gram Positive
Rods in long chains, pairs, or single cells. “Boxcar”
Aerobic
Spore forming

Question 2

Anthrax:
Virulence Factor (1)
Toxins (2)

Answer 2

Virulence: protein capsule. Antiphagocytic
Toxins: Lethal (cell death, inflammation) and Edema toxins

Question 3

Anthrax Infections (3)
Route, name, and occurrence

Answer 3

Inoculation: cutaneous anthrax, most common
Inhalation: inhalation anthrax, uncommon
Ingestion: gastrointestinal anthrax, rare

Question 4

Anthrax Treatment:
Cutaneous (non-bioterrorism)
Inhalation, gastrointestinal, or bioterrorism

Answer 4

Cutaneous/non-bioterrorism: Amoxacillin
All others: Doxycycline or ciprofloxacin + 2 other antibiotics (rifampin, vancomycin, PCN, imipenem, clindamycin, or clarithromycin)

Question 5

Brucellosis:
Gram stain
Shape
Cellular location

Answer 5

Gram negative
Coccobacilli
Intracellular pathogens…prefer macrophages and monocytes

Question 6

Brucellosis tranmission

Answer 6

Aerosol or ingestion

Question 7

Brucellosis incubation and presentation

Answer 7

Acute, undulating fever, joint pain, HA, and drenching sweats. Fever repeats daily
Incubation is 1 week to 3 months

Question 8

Brucellosis treatment

Answer 8

6 week or longer course of a tetracycline (doxycycline) and rifampin

Question 9

Pasteurellosis:
Gram stain
Aerobic abilities
Shape
Virulence factors (2)

Answer 9

Gram negative
Facultative anaerobe
Coccobacilli
LPS and polysaccharide capsule

Question 10

Pasteurella multocida…usually comes from what?

Answer 10

Infections commonly occur following bite or scratch of a cat or dog

Question 11

Pasteurellosis:
Presentation
Treatment

Answer 11

1. Redness and swelling around wound that become painful.
2. Cellulitis and abscess formation may occur
   Treatment: PCN

Question 12

Leptospirosis:
Gram stain
Shape
Distinguishing characteristic

Answer 12

Gram negative
Spiral-shaped bacteria
Terminal “hooks”

Question 13

Leptospirosis

Exposure

Answer 13

1. Develops after exposure to contaminated animal urine or contaminated water
2. Most infections in US result from recreational swimming or occupational exposure (veterinarian)

Question 14

Leptospirosis

How do most cases present?

Answer 14

Most infections present as self-limited, non-specific febrile illness

Question 15

Leptospirosis
Phase 1 of disease
Phase 2 of disease

Answer 15

Phase 1: febrile, influenza-like illness

Phase 2: disseminated phase. May present as meningitis, conjunctivitis, jaundice, renal failure, and/or petechial rash

Question 16

Leptospirosis
Diagnosis (2)
Treatment (2)

Answer 16

1. History and serology

2 PCN and ampicillin

Question 17

Tularemia
Gram stain
Shape
Cellular location
Virulence factors (2)

Answer 17

Gram negative coccobacilli
Intracellular pathogen of macrophages and monocytes
Polysaccharide capsule and LPS

Question 18

Tularemia

Exposure

Answer 18

Inhalation of infected blood or ingestion of contaminated meat

Question 19

Tularemia

3 major forms

Answer 19

1. Ulceroglandular (skin)
2. Oculoglandular (eye)
3. Pneumonic (balls…hehehehehehe)

Question 20

Tularemia diagnosis (2)

Answer 20

History of exposure and serology

Question 21

Tularemia treatment

Answer 21

Gentamicin

Question 22

Plague
Gram stain
Shape
Giemsa stain shape and color

Answer 22

GRAM NEGATIVE, rod
Giemsa stain reveals a rod shaped organism with a characteristic bipolar staining, giving the appearance of a “closed safety pin”

Question 23

Plague virulence factors (2)

Answer 23

Protein capsule and LPS

Question 24

Primary vectors of Plague

Answer 24

Fleas with mammalian reservoirs

Question 25

Flea bite causes which type of plague?

Inhalation of respiratory droplets causes which plague?

Answer 25

Bubonic plague

Pneumonic plague

Question 26

Plague treatment

Answer 26

Streptomycin