Syke's infectious diseases - bacterial Flashcards
(106 cards)
What specie(s) of tick(s) transmit Ehrlichia canis?
Rhipicephalus sanguineus (primary); Ixodes ricinus, Haemaphysalis spp. ticks, and Dermacentor spp. ticks; experimental transmission has been accom- plished with Dermacentor variabilis ticks
What specie(s) of tick(s) transmit Ehrlichia ewingii?
Amblyomma americanum
What infectious organism(s) does Rhipicephalus sanguineus transmit?
Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis, Rickettsia ricketsii
What infectious organism(s) does Amblyomma americanum transmit?
Ehrlichia ewingii, Ehrlichia chafeensis, Francisella tularensis, Rickettsia ricketsii
What cells does Ehrlichia infect?
leukocytes – Ehrlichia canis (monocytes), Ehrlichia ewingii (granulocytes), Ehrlichia chafeensis (monocytes)
What are the phases of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME)?
acute (8-20 days after infection); subclinical (months to years); chronic
Where does Ehrlichia canis multiply/replicate?
multiplies by binary fission within vacuoles of mononucear phagocytes –> rupture of infected host cells leads to infection of new cells
Why might a dog infected with Ehrlichia have a negative immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test?
antibodies can only be detected 7-28 days after initial infection – false-negative may occur if tested too soon
T/F: A positive serum antibody titer for Ehrlichia indicates infection.
False - may reflect previous exposure and not necessarily disease
What test is more sensitive than immunofluorescent antibody or ELISA testing for acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis?
whole-blood PCR assys for E. canis DNA
Why are fluoroquinolones not recommended for treatment of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis?
Ehrlichia canis appears to have intrinsic gyrase-mediated resistance to fluoroquinolones
What cutaneous signs have been associated with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis?
petechial and ecchymotic hemorrhages (occur d/t thrombocytopenia and platelet dysfunction)
What ticks are known to transmit Rickettsia ricketsii?
Dermacentor variabilis (american dog tick), Dermacentor andersoni (Rocky mountain wood tick), Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma aureolatum
What organism causes Rocky Mountain spotted fever? Characteristics of the organism?
Rickettsia rickettsii, an obligately intracellular bacteria
What is the characteristic clinical sign of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
disseminated vasculitis –> cutaneous macules, papules, petecchia
What cells does Rickettsia ricketsii infect?
primarily infects endothelial cells (smooth muscles and monocytes may also be infected)
T/F: Rocky Mountain spotted fever has three phases: acute, subclinical, and chronic.
False - Ehrlichia has three phases, RMSF causes an ACUTE disease
What tests are used to aid in diagnosis of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
convalescent antibody titers (2-3 weeks apart), PCR testing (during acute phase), biopsy – shows vasculitis and organisms around vessels – with direct IFA or Gimenez stain
What antibiotics can worsen the course of Rocky Mountain spotted fever?
trimethoprim sulfonamides
T/F: Staphylococcus spp. are strictly aerobic bacteria.
False - facultative anaerobes
What is coagulase?
enzyme that cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin –> results in coagulation of plasma
What is the mecA gene?
located on a large genetic element (staphylococcal casette chromosome) –> encodes an altered penicillin binding protein (PBP2a)
what are the members of the S. intermedius group?
Staph. Intermedius, Staph. Pseudintermedius, Staph. Delphini
Scalded skin syndrome has been reported in people with what organism? Pathogenesis?
Staph. Aureus –> strains that produce an exfoliative toxin, which hydrolyzes the intercellular glycoprotein desmoglein-1

