Clinical Bacteriology: Spirochetes (Module 20)

This flashcard set covers the general morphology, classification, clinical manifestations, and laboratory diagnosis of the major spirochete genera: Treponema, Borrelia, and Leptospira.

Spirochaetales

The order of long, slender, helically curved gram-negative bacilli that includes the families Leptospiraceae and Spirochetaceae.

Axial Fibril

The locomotor organelle of spirochetes, also known as endoflagella, periplasmic flagella, or axial filaments, which wraps around the cell body under the outer sheath.

Insertion Disks

Plate-like structures located near the terminal portion of the spirochete cell wall where axial fibrils are attached; their number is directly proportional to the number of axial fibrils.

Corkscrew-like winding motility

The unique type of movement exhibited by spirochetes resulting from the arrangement of endoflagella wrapping around the coiled cell body.

Levaditi Staining

A staining technique used specifically for demonstrating spirochetes in tissue specimens.

Fontana-Tribondeau

A staining technique used to demonstrate spirochetes in clinical specimens that have been made into smears.

Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum

The causative agent of venereal syphilis, typically characterized by slender cells with tight coils and pointed ends.

Chancre

A small, painless, hard, and indurated ulcer appearing at the site of infection during the primary stage of syphilis.

Condylomata lata

Painful lesions occurring on moist areas of the body, such as the vaginal and anal areas, during the secondary stage of syphilis.

Gumma

A hallmark lesion of the tertiary stage of syphilis, representing a pronounced immunologic reaction that can involve the Central Nervous System and Cardiovascular System.

Jarisch Herxheimer Reaction

A systemic reaction including fever, myalgia, and tachycardia occurring within 24 hours of beginning penicillin treatment for syphilis, caused by the release of endotoxins from the spirochetes.

VDRL (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory)

A nontreponemal serologic test that detects the non-specific antibody Reagin using cardiolipin antigen derived from beef heart.

FTA-ABS

A treponemal test (Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody Absorption) that detects specific IgG antibodies against Treponema pallidum by using fluorescein-labeled anti-human globulin serum.

MHA-TP

A treponemal test (Microhemagglutination Treponema pallidum) that utilizes turkey red blood cells coated with Treponemal antigen to detect specific antibodies.

Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue

The causative agent of Yaws (also known as frambasia, pian, buba, or bouba), which typically affects children in warm, tropical climates.

Treponema carateum

The causative agent of Pinta (carate or Mal de pinto), which causes skin discoloration.

Borrelia recurrentis

The causative agent of human relapsing fever, transmitted by the louse Pediculus humanus humanus or the Ornithodoros tick.

Borrelia burgdorferi

The causative agent of Lyme disease (pseudojuvenile rheumatoid arthritis), transmitted by the bite of the Ixodes reduvius tick.

Erythema migrans (EM)

The characteristic skin lesion associated with the first stage of Lyme disease.

Garin Bujadoux Bannwarth’s

A tick-borne meningopolyneuritis caused by Borrelia burgdorferi if the organism reaches the Central Nervous System.

Leptospira interrogans

An obligate aerobe spirochete with characteristic hooked ends that causes leptospirosis (Weil's disease), a zoonotic infection.

Conjunctival suffusion

The characteristic clinical finding in individuals infected with leptospirosis.

EMJH Medium

Ellinghausen’s McCollough-Johnson Harris medium, a specialized culture medium used for growing Leptospira.

Slide Agglutination Test

The gold standard serologic method for the detection of leptospirosis, which can be performed macroscopically or microscopically.