SPIROCHETES

• What shape do Borrelia spp. bacteria have?

  Stretched spiral
• How are Borrelia spp. transmitted?

  Through arthropod vectors
• What are the vectors for Borrelia spp.?

  Lice and ticks
• What is Borrelia recurrentis the agent of?

  Louse-borne relapsing fever
• What is the vector for Borrelia recurrentis?

  Human louse (Pediculus humanus)
• What symptoms are associated with Borrelia recurrentis infection?

  High fever, muscle pain, confusion
• What type of fever is caused by Borrelia hermsii and Borrelia parkeri?

  Tick-borne relapsing fever
• What is the vector for Borrelia hermsii?

  Ornithodoras ticks
• What disease does Borrelia burgdorferi cause?

  Lyme disease
• What are the vectors for Borrelia burgdorferi?

  Ixodid ticks and deer ticks
• What are the three stages of Lyme disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi?

  1. Erythema chronicum migrans (bull’s eye rash)
  2. Dissemination through blood to various organs
  3. Neurological abnormalities, arthritis, skin lesions
• What is the gold standard for laboratory diagnosis of Borrelia spp.?

  Western blot
• What is the culture medium used for Borrelia spp.?

  Kelly’s medium
• What is the shape of Treponema spp. bacteria?

  Tightly twisted resembling corkscrew
• What disease does Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum cause?

  Venereal syphilis
• What are some alternative names for venereal syphilis?

  Great pox, Evil pox, Spanish disease
• How is Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum transmitted?

  Sexual contact, direct transmission, transplacental
• What are the stages of syphilis caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum?

  1. Primary: hard chancre
  2. Secondary: condylomata lata
  3. Latent: absence of symptoms
  4. Tertiary: gummas, neurosyphilis
• What is the Hutchinsonian triad associated with congenital syphilis?

  Notched teeth, keratitis, eczema
• What disease does Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue cause?

  Yaws
• How is Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue transmitted?

  Direct contact with infected lesion
• What disease does Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum cause?

  Bejel
• How is Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum transmitted?

  Mouth to mouth by utensils
• What disease does Treponema carateum cause?

  Pinta
• How is Treponema carateum transmitted?

  Direct contact with infected lesion
• What is the shape of Leptospira spp. bacteria?

  Tightly twisted with hooked ends
• What are the non-pathogenic species of Leptospira?

  Leptospira biflexa and Leptospira kiojera
• What disease does Leptospira interrogans cause?

  Leptospirosis
• What type of disease is leptospirosis?

  Zoonosis
• How is Leptospira interrogans transmitted?

  Direct contact with urine of animals
• What severe form of leptospirosis is mentioned?

  Weil’s Disease
• What are the principal leptospiral diseases caused by Leptospira interrogans?

  1. Icterhemorrhagiae: Weil’s Disease
  2. Canicola: Infectious Jaundice
  3. Autumnalis: Fort Bragg Fever
  4. Grippotyphosa: Marsh Fever
  5. Hebdomadis: 7 day fever
  6. Mitis/Pomona: Swine Disease
• What is the culture medium for Leptospira spp.?

  Ellinghausen-McCullough-Johnson-Harris
• What are Chlamydia spp. formerly known as?

  Bedsonia
• What type of bacteria are Chlamydia spp.?

  Obligate intracellular Gram (-) bacteria
• What is the infectious particle of Chlamydia spp.?

  Elementary body
• What disease does Chlamydia psittaci cause?

  Psittacosis
• How is Chlamydia psittaci transmitted?

  Inhalation of contaminated aerosols
• What disease is associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae?

  Mild respiratory tract infections
• What strain of Chlamydia pneumoniae is mentioned?

  TWAR (Taiwan Acute Respiratory) strain