spirochetes

• What are the two families contained in the introduction of the lecture on spirochetes?


  Leptospiraceae and Spirochaetaceae
• Which genera are included in the families Leptospiraceae and Spirochaetaceae?


  Leptospira, Borrelia, and Treponema
• What important human diseases are caused by the genera Leptospira, Borrelia, and Treponema?


  Syphilis, Leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and Relapsing fever
• What is the size of Leptospira organisms?


  About 0.1 μm wide and 5-15 μm long
• What is the causative agent of Leptospirosis?

  Leptospira interrogans
• What is a characteristic feature of Leptospira interrogans?


  It has a hook at one or both pointed ends, resembling a shepherd's crook
• What type of aerobe is Leptospira interrogans?


  Obligate aerobe
• On which media can Leptospira be grown?


  Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris (EMJH) medium or Fletcher medium
• What is the usual setting for Leptospirosis?


  Flood waters
• How is Leptospira transmitted to humans?


  Via animal urine, commonly from rats
• What are some virulence factors of Leptospira?


  Reduced phagocytosis, soluble hemolysin, and small amounts of endotoxins
• How do Leptospira penetrate the host's body?


  Through mucous membranes in lower extremities via small cuts or abrasions
• What can Leptospira cause in the brain?


  Immune-Mediated Meningitis
• In which samples can Leptospira be detected during the disease?


  Urine samples in the latter stages
• What is the gold standard for detecting Leptospira?


  Leptospire microscopic agglutination test (lepto MAT)
• When are IgM antibodies detected in Leptospira infections?


  Within 1 week after the onset of disease
• What does the presence of IgG antibodies indicate?


  Past Leptospirosis infection
• What are the symptoms of the acute Leptospiremic phase?


  Fever, chills, intense headache, calf tenderness, and conjunctival suffusion
• What is Weil Syndrome?


  The most severe form of Leptospirosis characterized by jaundice, bleeding, and uremia
• What is the most common cause of death in Weil Syndrome?


  Massive Pulmonary Hemorrhage
• What are the treatments for Leptospirosis?


  Doxycycline, Ampicillin, and Amoxicillin
• What are the prevention methods for Leptospirosis?


  Vaccination of domestic livestock and pets, and rat control
• What are the keywords to remember for Leptospirosis?


  Flood water, calf pain, fever, chills, jaundice, and uremia
• What is the largest medically important bacteria?

  Borrelia burgdorferi
• What is the incubation period for Lyme disease?


  1. 15 days
• What is the first stage of Lyme disease characterized by?


  Erythema chronicum migrans, resembling a bull's eye rash
• What are the symptoms of Stage 2 Lyme disease?


  Myocarditis, meningitis, and Bell's palsy
• What are the symptoms of Stage 3 Lyme disease?


  Autoimmune migratory polyarthritis and acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans
• What are the diagnostic methods for Borrelia?


  Giemsa or Wright-stained smears, culture on BSK medium, and serologic tests
• What is the treatment for Borrelia infections?


  Doxycycline and Amoxicillin
• What is the size of Treponema pallidum?


  About 0.1-0.2 µm thick and 6-20 µm in length
• Why is Treponema pallidum difficult to visualize?


  It is very thin and requires dark field microscopy for visualization
• What are the key characteristics of Leptospira, Borrelia, and Treponema?


  • Leptospira: Causative agent of Leptospirosis, obligate aerobe, tightly coiled spirochetes.
  • Borrelia: Causes Lyme disease and relapsing fever, arthropod-borne, weakly-staining gram-negative.
  • Treponema: Causes syphilis, very thin spiral organisms, difficult to visualize under bright field microscopy.
• What are the stages of syphilis and their characteristics?


  1. Primary: Chancre at the site of infection.
  2. Secondary: Skin rashes, mucous membrane lesions, and systemic symptoms.
  3. Latent: No symptoms, but infection persists.
  4. Tertiary: Severe complications affecting multiple organ systems.
• What are the prevention strategies for diseases caused by spirochetes?


  • Vaccination of livestock and pets.
  • Rat control to prevent Leptospirosis.
  • Use of protective clothing in endemic areas.
  • Regular health checks for early detection.
• What are the common diagnostic methods for spirochete infections?


  • Darkfield microscopy for Leptospira and Treponema.
  • Giemsa or Wright staining for Borrelia.
  • Culture on specific media (EMJH for Leptospira, BSK for Borrelia).
  • Serologic tests for antibody detection.
• What is the mnemonic for Lyme disease symptoms?


  BAKE
• What does the 'B' in BAKE stand for in Lyme disease?


  Bell's palsy
• What does the 'A' in BAKE represent?

  Arthritis
• What does the 'K' in BAKE refer to?

  Cardiac block