serologicaldiagnosisofinfectiousdiseases.docVIP

Serological Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases Spirochete Diseases Introduction Morphology Spirochetes are long, slender, helically coiled bacteria containing axial filaments, or periplasmic flagella, that wind around the bacterial cell wall and are inclosed by an outer sheath. Gram-negative, micro-aerophilic bacteria. Corkscrew motility. Spirochete diseases have many similarities. Localized skin infection disseminates to other organs. Latent stage, no signs/symptoms apparent. Cardiac and neurological involvement in untreated cases. Serological testing important in diagnosis Isolation of organism very difficult Clinical symptoms not always apparent. Syphilis Introduction The most commonly acquired spirochete disease in the U.S. Syphilis is a complex sexually transmitted disease that has a highly variable clinical course. Over 50,000 cases reported in 1990 in the U.S. Characteristic of the organism Causative agent is Treponema pallidum, member of the family Spirochaetaceae. No natural reservoir in the environment, requires living host. Morphology  Spiral shaped and motile due to periplasmic flagella. Variable length. Three other pathogens in the group Treponema which are morphologically and antigenically similar to T. Pallidum, differences are in characteristics of lesions, amount of systemic involvement and course of the disease. T. pertenue found in tropics, causes disease Yaws. 1) Non-venereal transmission, transmitted by direct contact. 2) Disease of bone and skin, rarely viscera Persistent lesions, wart-like, occur primarily in children, causes and ulcerative necrosis, scar formation, disfiguring. untreated disease not as severe as syphilis, but lesions are more persistent. treat with penicillin serologic syphilis test will be reactive. T. endemicum causes non-venereal syphilis treat with penicillin. serologic syphilis test will be reactive. T. caroteum found in central and South America, causes pinta. non-