Zoonotic bacteria Flashcards
Who are at high risk of developing zoonotic infections?
Vets, farmers, ranchers, lab workers etc
True or false: in general, humans are only incidental hosts for zoonotic illnesses?
True
Why are there not many vaccine for zoonotic infections?
Not feasible d/t low incidence
What is the gram stain, morphology, of bacillus anthrax? Spores? Aerobic?
Gram positive rod
Aerobic
Spore forming
How does bacillus anthracis appear in a stain?
Long chains or single with squared ends
Where are spores of anthrax found? How long are they viable for?
Soil, viable for decades
Squared ended gram positive bacilli = ?
Bacillus anthracis
How do you diagnose bacillus anthracis?
Culture is very easy
What is the main virulence factor for bacillus anthracis?
Protein capsule
Poly D-glutamic acid
What are the three toxins that bacillus anthracis produces?
Lethal toxin
Edema toxin
Protective antigen
What is the pathogenesis of the lethal toxin that anthrax produces?
Disrupts normal cellular signaling events, leading to cell death
What is the pathogenesis of the edema toxin produced by anthrax?
Increase adenylate cyclase upregulation = water efflux
What is the general way that we become infected with bacillus anthracis?
Inhaled or inoculated spores
What is the pathophysiology of the protective antigen that bacillus anthracis produces?
Binds to cellular receptors. Activated by cleavage by host cell enzymes. Allows edema/lethal factor to enter
What is the reservoir of anthrax? Where in the world?
Cattle, sheep, goats, horses
Everywhere
How do animals become infected with bacillus anthracis?
Grazing pastures
What are the two primary ways that anthrax can be transmitted?
Cutaneous Inoculation
inhalation
What is wool-sorters disease?
Bacillus anthracis poisoning
Who is usually infected via the inoculation route of anthrax?
Butchers
Can anthrax be ingested?
yes, but more rare
The majority of human cases of anthrax poisoning are of what type?
Cutaneous
What are the initial symptoms of cutaneous bacillus anthracis poisoning?
Small, red, painless papule, that turns to vesicle to necrotic ulcer (eschar)
Lymph node swelling
Eschar = what bacterial disease?
Anthrax
What is the treatment for cutaneous bacillus anthracis poisoning?
topical abx
What is the fatality rate of cutaneous anthrax poisoning with and without treatment?
with = <1% w/o = 5-20%
What are the presenting symptoms for inhalation bacillus anthracis poisoning?
Non-productive cough, SOB, malaise, nonspecific
What are the second stage symptoms of anthrax?
Fever, diaphoresis, extreme SOB, cyanosis,
Meningitis
What is the mortality rate of inhalation anthrax?
100% w/o treatment
75% with
What are the findings on a CXR for anthrax?
Enlarged hilar lymph
What is the incubation period of ingested anthrax?
1-7 days
What are the symptoms of ingested anthrax?
abdominal pain, oral lesions, bloody diarrhea,
What is the case fatality of ingested anthrax?
100%
What is the treatment for cutaneous anthrax?
Amox
What is the treatment for inhalation anthrax?
doxy/cipro with two additional abx
Is there a vaccination for anthrax?
Yes
What are the three species of brucella that infect humans?
B. Abortis (cattle)
B. Suis (piggies)
B. melitensis (goats)
What is the gram stain and morphology of brucella? how fast do they grow?
Small, slow growing gram negative coccobacilli
In what cells does brucella survive in?
Phagosomes of macrophages/monocytes
How is brucella transmitted?
Aerosol or ingestion of contaminated foods
Is human to human transmission of brucella possible?
Yes, but rare