Bacteriology - Spirochetes

Front 1

Spirochetes are separated into three genera:

Back 1

1. Treponema
2. Borrelia
3. Leptospira

Front 2

Spirochetes
-size
-gram neg or pos
-shape

Back 2

tiny
gram-negative
move via axial filaments

Front 3

Two things are unique about spirochetes:

Back 3

1. have additional phospholipid-rich outer membrane, which is thought to protect from immune recognition.
2. axial flagella run sideways along the spirochete under outer membrane sheath and are called periplasmic flagella. rotation of these flagella spins the spirochete around and generates thrust, propelling them forwar.

Front 4

Treponema pallidum is agent of __(a)__, and is transmitted via __(b)__, and __(c)__.

Back 4

a. syphilis
b. genital/genital contact - contact with a chancre
c. in utero or during birth :(

Front 5

Syphilis begins with a __(a)__, which is __(b)__.

Back 5

a. chancre
b. sore with bacteria inside

Front 6

Stages of syphilis:
Primary
Secondary
Latent
Tertiary

Back 6

Primary: painless chancre
Secondary: bacteremic stage - starts about six weeks after primary chancre has healed. is systemic. will see widespread rash and painless, wart-like lesions in warm, moist sites. almost any organ can become affected during secondary stage.
Latent: asymptomatic; can either continue this way, or develop into tertiary
Tertiary: Slow inflammatory damage to organ tissue, small blood vessels, and nerve cells.

Front 7

Syphilis diagnosis

Back 7

Primary (before immunity develops) can be detected by dark field microscopy.
Secondary and tertiary: serological methods to detect cardiolipin which results from tissue injury with autoimmunity. If positive, more definitive diagnosis is achieved by detecting presence of specific serum antibodies.

Front 8

Syphilis treatment and prevention

Back 8

Penicillin via injection
Tetracycline and doxycycline for penicillin-sensitive patients.
There is no vaccine.
Safe sex.

Front 9

Bejel

Back 9

Endemic Syphilis
Not transmitted sexually, but rather skin to skin. Disease of low-income groups with poor hygiene.
Treatment: penicillin G or tetracycline

Front 10

Yaws
causative agent
transmission
clinical
treatment

Back 10

Causative agent: T. pertenue
Spread via direct skin contact.
A month after infxn, papule forms at infxn site --> becomes crusted ulcer that takes months to heal. Soft growths appear on face, butt, limbs. Can also be on bottom of feet, leading to characteristic walk. Can cause bone malformations and be disfiguring
Treatment: penicillin G

Front 11

Pinta
-causative agent?
-where does it occur?
-transmission?
-diagnosis?
-treatment?

Back 11

Causative agent: Treponema carateum
Occurs in New World, particularly Caribbean, central American, and norther South America.
Spread is skin-to-skin. Not deep spreading.
Detection via serology or direct examination of lesion specimens under light microscope.
Treament: penicillin G

Front 12

Borrelia (specifically burgdorferi) causes what disease?

Back 12

Lyme disease

Front 13

Borrelia burgdorferi
-vector

Back 13

soft-shelled (deer) tick

Front 14

Lyme Disease: three stages

Back 14

1. Early localized stage: erythema chronicum migrans (inflammation around infected area)
2. Early disseminated stage: arthritis, cardiac (myocarditis), neurologic (bell's balsy)
3. Late stage: chronic arthritis, encephalopathy

Front 15

Lyme disease treatment

Back 15

If early stage, antibiotic pills. Doxycycline, amoxicillin.
If secondary stage, need to inject antibiotics into infected areas.

Front 16

Leptospira interrogans
-transmission
-name of disease

Back 16

Found in rat urine
Contact of the skin or mucous membranes with contaminated water, soil or vegetation;
Causes leptospirosis;
severe infection = Weil's disease

Front 17

Leptospirosis
-clinical signs

Back 17

Fever, headache, chills, severe malaise, vomiting, myalgia and conjunctival suffusion; occasionally meningitis, rash; sometimes jaundice, renal insufficiency, anemia and hemorrhage of the skin

Front 18

Leptospirosis
-treatment

Back 18

penicillin, tetracyclines