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20 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
What are the three genera of spirochetes?
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Treponema, Borrelia, and Leptospira
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Treponema produces no toxins or tissue destructive enzymes – how does it cause disease?
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The host’s own immune responses – inflammatory cell infiltrates, proliferative vascular changes, and granuloma formation.
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Describe primary syphilis?
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Painless chancre that erupts at the site of inoculation up to 6 weeks after the initial contact – highly infectious. This resolves over the next 6 weeks.
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Describe secondary syphilis?
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Bacteremic stage occurs approx. 6 weeks after the chancre has healed. Systemic – widespread rash, lymphadenopathy, multi organ involvement. Also, conyloma latum – lesion occurs in warm, moist sites.
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What is latent syphilis?
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If gone untreated, features of secondary syphilis will resolve, but latency will continue for several years, often including relapses.
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Describe the three components of tertiary syphilis?
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1. Gummatous syphilis – granulomatous lesions which eventually necrose
2. Cardiovascular syphilis – ie. aortic aneurism 3. Neurosyphilis – subacute meningitis (predominance of lymphocytes), meningovascular syphilis, tabes dorsalis, general paresis of the insane. Sometimes neurosyphilis is asymptomatic. |
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What is the Argyll-Robertson pupil?
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Like the prostitute with syphilis, it “accommodates but does not react.” Caused by the midbrain lesion in tabes dorsalis and general paresis.
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Rule of sixes in syphilis?
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See page 93
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What is the treatment of choice for syphilis?
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Penicillin – which can even cross the placenta and cure congenital syphilis.
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Describe Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue?
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Yaws – a disease of the moist tropics – tertiary lesions can cause disfigurement of the face.
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Describe Treponema pallidum subspecies carateum?
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Pinta – skin disease limited to rural Latin America.
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What is the most commonly reported tick-borne illness in the US and what bug causes it?
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Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi – Ixodes tick.
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Describe similarities between Lyme disease and syphilis?
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Both are caused by spirochetes.
Both have a primary stage involving a single painless skin lesion. Both involve spread throughout the body, with multiple organ involvement. Both cause chronic problems years later. |
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What is the skin lesion of Lyme disease called?
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Erythema chronicum migrans.
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To which 4 organ systems do Borrelia spirochetes disseminate in early stages?
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Skin, nervous system, heart, and joints.
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What antibx are used to treat Lyme disease?
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Penicillin or doxycycline.
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What bug causes relapsing fever? How does it cause relapses?
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Borrelia recurrentis. Antigenic variation involves the rapid change of surface proteins, so the bug is unrecognizable by antibodies.
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Where can leptospira be found (reservoir)?
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Urine of dogs, rats, livestock, and wild animals.
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Describe the first leptospiremic phase?
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Invasion of blood and CSF, with fever, headache, muscle aches. Classical signs – red conjunctiva and photophobia.
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What is Weil’s disease? What causes it?
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Infectious jaundice caused by a Leptospira species.
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