Borrelia And Leptospira

Front 1

Describe the morphology of borrelia and leptospira

Back 1

They are both spirochetes that are spiral shaped, long and very thin, and contain a periplasmic flagella

Front 2

Describe the important physiology of leptospira

Back 2

They are obligate aerobes that require fatty acids as carbon sources

Front 3

Describe the important physiology of borrelia

Back 3

They are microaerophilic and grow in complex media

Front 4

Describe the habitat of Borrelia burgdorferi

Back 4

They are found in white-footed mouse and deer

Front 5

What bacteria causes Lyme Disease and what is the primary vector?

Back 5

Borrelia burgdorferi; the primary vector is the tick

Front 6

What stage in the life cycle of the tick is responsible for the most infections of Lyme disease

Back 6

The nymph

Front 7

What is the characteristic finding in a primary stage of Lyme disease?

Back 7

An annular, bulls-eye skin rash that occurs at the site of tick bite accompanied by flu-like symptoms

Front 8

What are the primary manifestations of secondary Lyme disease?

Back 8

Neurologic symptoms (facial nerve palsy, peripheral neuropathy, meningitis) and cardiac symptoms (endocarditis, AV block)

Front 9

What causes the progression from primary to secondary Lyme disease and when does it commonly occur?

Back 9

Proliferation of borrelia at the infection site and dissemination and replication throughout the body leads to secondary stage, which usually occurs 2 weeks to 3 months after the initial tick bite

Front 10

Describe the clinical manifestations of tertiary Lyme disease

Back 10

It is typically an arthritis that is probably an immuno-pathological process similar to Reiter syndrome

Front 11

What bacteria besides trepanema pallidum and listeria can be transmitted across the placenta, causing congenital infection?

Back 11

Borrelia burgdorferi

Front 12

What is the best method of diagnosis of Borrelia Burgdorferi infection?

Back 12

Correlation of serology with the medical history

Front 13

What is the cause of relapsing fever and what is the vector?

Back 13

Relapsing fever is caused by borrelia recurrentis, hermsii or parkeri and is transmitted by soft ticks or louse (recurrentis)

Front 14

Describe the clinical manifestations of relapsing fever

Back 14

It is a febrile disease that persists for a few days and then stops, only to relapse again (1-4 times)

Front 15

Explain the relapsing nature of relapsing fever

Back 15

The spirochetes express antigens called variable major protein, which are targeted by antibodies and the infection is contained; relapse occurs when the bacteria remaining change the variable major protein to a new type which is not responsive to the previous antibody

Front 16

What is the best method of diagnosing relapsing fever?

Back 16

Microscopy, observing the spirochetes (serology not used due to antigenic variation)

Front 17

What is the reservoir for leptospira interrogans?

Back 17

Dogs are the major source as well as hogs and cattle

Front 18

Describe the transmission of leptospira interrogans

Back 18

Infected animals shed the organism into their urine which contaminates water and soil; transmission occurs via direct contact with the urine or water

Front 19

Describe the clinical manifestations of leptospirosis

Back 19

It is biphasic with a primary disease (mild septicemia and flu-like), an asymptomatic interval (antibody clearance), and secondary disease (return of symptoms and immune illness)

Front 20

Describe the secondary stage of leptospirosis

Back 20

It is an immune stage that can be anicteric with fever, mild meningitis, or icteric with jaundice and renal failure

Front 21

What is the best way to diagnose Leptospirosis?

Back 21

Blood and urine cultures along with history and serology