Bacteria: Spirochetes

Question 1

List the 3 spirochetes

Answer 1

1. Borrielia Birgdorferi
2. Leptospria Interrogans
3. Treponema Pallidum

Question 2

Borrelia Burgdorferi

Answer 2

spirochete

Question 3

Lyme disease commonly occurs in the

Answer 3

northeastern US

Question 4

Lyme disease is transmitted by the

Answer 4

Ixodes tick

Question 5

The _______ _________ _______ is the host of the Ixodes tick larvae (the vector of Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria)

Answer 5

white footed mouse

Question 6

The ______ ______ ______ is the obligatory host of adult Ixodes ticks (the vector of Borrelia Burgdorferi bacteria)

Answer 6

white-tailed deer

Question 7

Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria can be visualized using a

Answer 7

Wright or Wright-Giemsa stain

Question 8

A hallmark of early localized Lyme disease (stage 1) is

Answer 8

erythema chorincum migrans (or a “bull’s-eye” rash)

Question 9

early localized Lyme disease (stage 1) may present with

Answer 9

flu like symptoms such as fever and chills

Question 10

Early disseminated Lyme disease (stage 2) may result in

Answer 10

1. heart block caused by myocarditis

2. bilateral Bell’s Palsy

Question 11

Late disseminated Lyme Disease (stage 3) may result in

Answer 11

1. large joint migratory polyarthritis

2. encephalopathy

Question 12

_________ should be administered during early stages of Lyme disease

Answer 12

Doxycycline

Question 13

_____ should be administered during late stages or in severe cases of Lyme disease

Answer 13

ceftriaxone

Question 14

Leptospira interrogans

Answer 14

spirochete

Question 15

Leptospira interrogans spirochetes have a

Answer 15

question mark appearance on microscopy

Question 16

Leptospira interrogans can be found in

Answer 16

water contaminated with infected animal urine

Question 17

Leptospirosis commonly presents with

Answer 17

fever

Question 18

non-suppurative conjunctivitis is a common finding in

Answer 18

early leptospirosis

Question 19

Weil’s disease

Answer 19

severe form of leptospirosis involving renal and hepatic failure

Question 20

leptospirosis can involve

Answer 20

multiple organs by hematogenous spread

Question 21

leptospirosis/Weil’s disease can cause

Answer 21

1. acute kidney injury
2. liver dysfunction
3. jaundice

Question 22

Treponema pallidum

Answer 22

spirochete

Question 23

Treponema pallidum is a

Answer 23

spirochetal bacteria that appears spiral-shaped on microscopy

Question 24

What is needed for direct visualization of Treponema pallidum

Answer 24

dark-field microscopy is needed for direct visualization of Treponema pallidum bacteria

Question 25

What is the screening test for syphillis

Answer 25

VDRL

Question 26

What can cause a false positive result on a VDRL test

Answer 26

1. mono
2. rheumatoid factor
3. systemic lupus erythematosus
4. leprosy
5. IV drug use

Question 27

What is the confirmatory test for syphillis

Answer 27

the fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test (FTA-ABS) is the confirmatory test for syphilis

Question 28

Primary stage of Syphilis

Answer 28

chancres are painless sores that typically form on the genitals or anus during the primary stage of syphilis

Question 29

Secondary syphilis is a

Answer 29

systemic disease

Question 30

Secondary Syphilis

Answer 30

1. a diffuse maculopapular rash occurs during secondary syphilis and commonly involves the palms of the hands and soles of the feet
2. condyloma lata are flat-topped cutaneous lesions that sometimes develop on the genitals during the secondary stage of syphilis

Question 31

Treponema pallidum spirochetes can be visualized within

Answer 31

condyloma lata using dark-field microscopy

Question 32

Gummas

Answer 32

gummas are soft growths with firm, necrotic centers that form during the tertiary stage of syphilis

Question 33

syphilitic aortitis

Answer 33

syphilitic aortitis (which occurs during the tertiary stage of syphilis) presents with “tree-barking” of the aorta and may result in the formation of a thoracic aortic aneurysm

Question 34

the destruction of the vasa vasorum by Treponema pallidum bacteria is the cause of

Answer 34

syphilitic aortitis during the tertiary stage of syphilis

Question 35

Tabes Dorasalis

Answer 35

tabes dorsalis (a demyelination of the of the nerves in the dorsal/posterior columns of the spinal cord) is a complication of tertiary syphilis

Question 36

Argyll Robertson pupils

Answer 36

Argyll Robertson pupils (which display accommodation but do not react to light) may be seen during the tertiary stage of syphilis

Question 37

Saber shins

Answer 37

saber shins (a sharp anterior bowing of the tibia) is a possible complication of congenital syphilis

Question 38

Sadle Nose

Answer 38

saddle nose (a collapse of part of the nasal bridge) is a possible complication of congenital syphilis

Question 39

Hutchinson’s Teeth

Answer 39

Hutchinson’s teeth (blunted/notched incisors) and Mulberry molars (enamel growth on cusps of molars) are possible complications of congenital syphilis

Question 40

Congenital syphilis may result in

Answer 40

congenital syphilis may result in sensorineural hearing loss

Question 41

_____ is an effective treatment for syphilis

Answer 41

Penicillin

Question 42

The Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction

Answer 42

consists of fever and chills caused by exotoxin release due to the death of Treponema pallidum bacteria after initiation of antibiotic therapy

Question 43

the Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction is characterized by

Answer 43

fever and chills