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Microbiology > Unit 6 > Flashcards

Unit 6 Flashcards

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1
Q

What are sprophytes

AKA saprobes

A

Microbes that feed off dead/decaying tissues (not a true pathogen since the tissue is already dead/damaged)

Decomposers

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2
Q

What are pathogenic heterotrophs

A

Pathogens that feed of living cells/tissues -causes damage in the process of feeding which releases more nutrients

Live in or on the host

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3
Q

True or false

All viruses are intracellular pathogens, and only some bacteria are

A

True

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4
Q

Why do pathogens have a negative relationship with their host

A

Because the host is being damaged while the pathogen is benefiting

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5
Q

Why are the most successful pathogens the ones that cause a limited amount of damage to the host

A

Because if the host dies the pathogen no longer benefits

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6
Q

What is the exception for the commonly most successful pathogens

A

Pathogens that can easily spread to and infect other hosts which kill their host and movebon to another one

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7
Q

What are primary pathogens

A

Disease causing microbes with the means to breach the defences of a host, and can survive past the natural defensive barriers and initial attack by the immune system

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8
Q

What are opprotunistic pathogens

A

Pathogens that can only cause disease to a host with a compromised immune system or if they are in very large numbers

Can also be acquired from the environment or from others

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9
Q

What are some examples of a host with a compromised immune system

A 
Very sick
Malnourished 
Internal parasites 
Immunosuppresive drugs (steroids, chemotherapy)
Poor hygiene 
Pregnant 
Neonates
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10
Q

True or false

There is often opprotunistic pathogens in normal flora

A

True

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11
Q

If the host is immune suppressed, the numbers of microbes cannot be suppressed, so opprotunistic pathogens

A

Can easily overwhelm and start disease

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12
Q

What are the 6 steps of microbial disease

A 
Transmission
Infection(entry-attachment-colonization)
Replication
Tissue damage
Spread within the host 
Spread outside the host
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13
Q

What is transmission

A

The spread of the disease (first step in infectious disease process)

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14
Q

Normal flora that can cause disease does not need to be transmitted (already in host, but all other pathogens

A

Must be acquired through transmission

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15
Q

What is direct transmission

A

From animal to animal, requires physical contact between the infected and susceptible animals

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16
Q

Pathogens that need direct contact ____ when away from the host

A

Readily die in the environment when away from the host, often from drying

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17
Q

What are some examples of direct transmission

A 
Touching
Kissing
Sexual contact
Contact with body lesions 
Contact with bodily fluid (blood, saliva)
Aerosal transmission
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18
Q

What is aerosal transmission what is it considered

A

Respiratory or nasal secretions, droplets, that can travel short distances, usually inhaled or land on mucus membranes

Not always considered direct transmission, some consider it air borne transmission

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19
Q

What is indirect transmission

A

Microbe is aquired from a contaminated surface/environment

These microbes are usually more resistant and can survive in the environment

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20
Q

What are some ways of indirect transmission

A

Fomites
Water borne transmission
Air borne transmission
Vector borne transmission

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21
Q

What are fomites

A

Any inanimate object that conveys a pathogen from one individual to another

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22
Q

What is air borne transmission

A

Pathogens carried in evaporated droplets or dust through the air

Usually land on a fomite

Very small and resistant to drying

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23
Q

What are some examples of air borne diseases

A

Anthrax
Influenza
Foot and mouth disease

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24
Q

What is vector borne transmission

A

Small animals capable of transmitting disease

Ex. Mosquitos (most common, carry westnile), ticks, fleas, flies

Vector itself does not undergo pathology, carries pathogen from infected animal to susceptible animal

Called vector borne diseases

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25
What is fecal oral transmission
Organisms in feces accidentally ingested by contamination Can be direct or indirect (grooming, contaminated food, water and soil) Most common reason for spread of pathogens from animal feces to people Salmonella, parvovirus, E. coli
26
How can fecal-oral transmission be reduced
``` Cooking food Hand washing Protection of water supply Keeping feed away from feces Picking up dog feces ```
27
What is vertical transmission
Spread of disease from mother to child 3 ways: In utero: from mothers blood via the placenta to the fetus Trans-vaginally: exposed in birthing canal (pathogens from urogenital tract and feces) enters via swallowing Nursing: pathogens in mammary glands and secreted in colostrum/milk and ingested by neonates
28
What decreases chances of trans vaginal transmission
C sections
29
What is horizontal transmission
Pathogens that are spread by routes other than mother to child , includes direct and indirect transmission
30
What are nosocomial infections
Diseases acquired while in the hospital/Clinc Can be direct or indirect (aerosals, fomites, contaminated fluids (squirt bottles and water baths)) Always a concern
31
Why are nosocomial infections harder to treat
Microbe had a greater chance of having antimicrobial drug resistance (previously exposed to antibiotics and survived while in hospital) Greater chance of being exposed to an immunocompromised patient, more likely to get infected, and more dependent on drugs
32
What is zoonosis
Disease that are passed from animal to people or vise versa Direct or indirect ( saliva, blood, urine, feces, bites, ingestion)
33
According to the centers for disease control (CDC) ___% of human infectious diseases are potential zoonoses
60%
34
According to the centers for disease control (CDC) ___% of new emerging diseases are zoonotic
75%
35
What are some important zoonoses
Rabies Salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter Toxoplasma gondii, Giardia Roundworms
36
What is endemic
An infectious disease always present in a population at a low level Common cold, seasonal flu, radies, distemper
37
What is Epidemic
When there is a sudden increase in the numbers of cases in a period of time with a population (stays within a community, rapidly spreading)
38
What is pandemic
Widespread epidemic, more cases in a short amount of time and moves to adjacent communities
39
Pandemic and epidemics are usually due to
New infectious diseases New species that has entered a diff host New strain that the immune system doesnt recognize New strain with increased pathogenicity Population lacks prior exposure and does not have immunity to fight it
40
What is infection and the 3 steps of it
The second step in infectious disease process Entry Attachment Establishment/colonization All 3 must occur in order for disease to occur
41
What is entry In the first part of infection
Infection depends on the number of pathogens that enter the host
42
What are some protective barriers of the body that prevent entry
``` Skin Tears Gastrointestinal mucosa Stomach acid Normal GI flora ```
43
What are some examples of distuptions to the protective barriers and what does it cause
``` Scratches Wounds Inflammation of the respiratory/urogenital tracts Injections Disruption of GI flora ``` Increases the chance of entry and adhesion of pathogens
44
What is the minumum infectious dose
The minimum number of microbes that must enter the host in order for disease to occur
45
What does the minumum infectious dose depend on
Pathogenicity of the microbe | Immune state of the host
46
What is attachement in the infection process
After entry, the microbe must attach to cells and body surfaces before replication can occur Any bacteria that do not adhere can be washed out (urination, peristalsis, tears)
47
How do bacteria attach
``` Fimbriae Pilli Lipopolysaccharides Slime layers Receptors on the surface of bacteria bind to specific receptors on the surface of host cells ```
48
What is establishment/colonization in the infection process
Once the microbe is attached, it can start to multiply
49
If the immune system can attack and eliminate the infection faster than the bacteria can replicate, the animals will___
Not become sick
50
In most causes the animal recieves the ____ and the immune system will not be able to clear the infection and itnwill become sick
Minimum infectious dose
51
What is pathogenicity
Meausre if how much damage a microbe causes
52
What is a pathogen
A microbe that causes damage
53
Why are primary pathogens the most virulent
Minimum infectious dose: 3-100,000 Disease produced: distinct Source of infection: transmitted Host state: can be healthy
54
Why are opprotunistic kind of virulent
Minumum infectious dose: 100,00+ Disease produced: non specific Source if infection: normal flora Host state: mild-moderate immune suppression
55
Why are non pathogens the least virulent
Minimum infectious dose: 1,000,000+ Disease produced: non specific Source of infection: normal flora Host state: severe immune suppression
56
What is direct damage
Damage due to the action of the microbe
57
Bacteria and fungi produce toxins that damage surrounding tissues to
Release nutrients | Enable spread to other tissues
58
What are some examples of toxins that cause damage and what do they do
Hemolysin: breakdown RBCs Collagenase: breaks down connective tissue Enterotoxins: damage GI barrier so nutrients arent absorbed
59
Viruses use host cells as “factories for multiplication” and often kill the cell in order to
Release newly formed viruses
60
What is indirect damage
From when the immune sustem reacts to the presence of an infectious organisms Causes Inflammation which damages tissues in the process of destroying bacteria
61
What si the course of a disease/the clinical pattern
1: infection (entry, attachment, start to multiply) 2: incubation 3: prodromal period 4: clinical/symptomatic period 5: resolution 6: convalesence
62
What is exposure
When aniamls come into contact with potential pathogens Dose not always mean there will be disease (must enter attach and establish) It isnpossible for the immune system to clear the microbe before it can attach
63
The ability to cause disease depends on
Infectious dose Pathogenicity of microbe Immune status of the animal
64
What is the incubation oeriod
Time between exposure to the pathogen and when clinical signs first appear There are not clinical signs or symptoms in this time Pathogen is establishing itself and multiplying (damage is minimal) Microbes can be shed during this time
65
True or false | The incubation period is the same for all microbes
FALSE it is specific to the microbe Parvovirus: 4-7 days Rabies: up to 6 months
66
What is the prodromal period
Following incubation when there are non-specific clinical signs Ex. Lethargy, fever, decreased appetite Animal is sick but signs do not indicate a specific disease or where it may be occuring Pathigen is established but numbers are still low
67
What is the clinical period | AKA symptomatic period
Period with the highest number of infectious organism Clinical signs are specific to colonization of a specific tissue and/or specific pathogenic factor specific to that organism Easiest stage to diagnose
68
What are some specific signs of radies and bordetella
Rabies: neurological symptoms Bordetella: rhinotracheitis
69
What is the resolution period
Decreasing numbers of pathogen with a corresponding decrease in secerity if clinical signs By activation of the immune system or treatment
70
What is convalescence period
When specific symptoms are GONE Infectious organisms are still Present in very low numbers (not enough to cause disease) Body is returning to normal Can still shed the pathogens
71
During the convalescence period there is an increased
Risk of re-infection | Risk of getting other diseases
72
What is shedding
Transmitting disease or pathogen to others
73
What is reinfection
Previous infection was resolved but same infection has started again from the transmission stage Usually a sign of an underlying issue (hygiene, immune system, stress)
74
What is a reccurent disease
Reinfection at weekly to monthly intervals
75
What is a resistant disease
The original infection was never completely resolved, so it is still present due to failure to treat it
76
What are chronic symptomatic infections
Infection persists with continued symtoms, occurs if the host immune response is unable to clear the infection
77
What is a chronic asymptomatic infection
Infection persists at low levels, low levels of replication, no clinical signs, May or may not be able to shed disease
78
What is a latent infection
A form if chrinic asymptomatic infection when the organism remains in the host but is not actively replication or producing pathogenic factors (no clinical signs) No risk of tansmission
79
What happens in a latent infection if the infectious organism is reactivated
Start to replicate again and produce pathogenic factors, and will return to clinical stage and transmit to others
80
What is remission
When clinical signs are temporarily absent Can stay in remission for long or short periods of time Means the infection was never cured
81
What us relapse
Periods when clinical signs are present When infectious organism starts to replicate again and produce pathogenic factors
82
What happens when an infection causes death
When the severity of clinical signs go above the clinical threshold

Microbiology (12 decks)

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