Immunology & Serology: Vector Borne Diseases

Vocabulary flashcards derived from lecture notes on vector-borne diseases and their associated clinical symptoms, diagnostic methods, and causative agents.

Vector-borne diseases

Diseases transmitted by vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.

Lyme Disease

Most common tick-borne illness in North America, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi.

Erythema Chronicum Migrans (ECM)

Skin lesion that occurs at the site of the tick bite associated with Lyme disease.

Borrelia burgdorferi

Causative agent of Lyme disease, a helical bacteria.

Ixodes scapularis

Black-legged or deer tick that is the principal vector for Lyme disease.

Acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans (ACA)

Late manifestation of Lyme disease caused by Borrelia afzelii, characterized by bluish-red discoloration.

IgM and IgG

Antibodies detected for confirming late Lyme disease infections.

Doxycycline

Common antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease and Ehrlichiosis.

Human Ehrlichiosis

Infection caused by Ehrlichia species, transmitted by ticks, often causing fever and rashes.

Babesia microti

Pathogen responsible for Babesiosis, transmitted via Ixodes ticks.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

A tick-borne disease caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, characterized by sudden fever and rash.

Chikungunya

Mosquito-borne viral disease leading to fever and severe joint pain.

Dengue Fever

Mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by high fever, rash, and severe joint pain.

Zika Virus

Viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes, associated with birth defects when contracted during pregnancy.

Periplasmic flagella

Flagella found in spirochetes that assist in motility.

Serologic testing

Laboratory tests used to detect antibodies against infections.

HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR2

Genetic markers associated with increased chronicity of Lyme arthritis.

Antigen Detection Systems

Tests that identify specific antigens related to pathogens, such as B. burgdorferi.

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

Molecular technique used for rapid detection of DNA from pathogens.

Leukopenia

A reduction in the number of white blood cells, often seen in Dengue fever.

Immunoassay

Laboratory technique to detect antibodies or antigens in a sample.

Western Blot

A confirmatory test for Lyme disease that checks for specific antibody reactivity.

Ehrlichia chaffeensis

The bacteria responsible for Human Monocytic Ehrlichiosis.

Acute infection

An infection that occurs suddenly and is severe in nature.

Multisystem illness

Disease that affects multiple organ systems, as seen in Lyme disease.

Maltese cross

A tetrad formation of Babesia observed in infected red blood cells.

Incubation period

The time between exposure to a pathogen and the onset of symptoms.

Nymph

The immature form of a tick that is often a vector for diseases.

Severe Dengue

A life-threatening form of dengue fever characterized by severe bleeding and plasma leakage.

Reservoir

An animal species that harbors a pathogen and can transmit it to humans.

Vector

An organism, typically an insect, that transmits a pathogen.

Dengue With Warning Signs

Dengue presenting with severe symptoms requiring urgent care.

Tick-borne diseases

Diseases transmitted through the bite of infected ticks.

Cutaneous involvement

Skin symptoms associated with a disease, particularly in the early stages of Lyme disease.

Joint pain (Arthralgia)

Pain in the joints, a common symptom of Lyme disease.

Central nervous system

Part of the body affected during the neurological manifestations of Lyme disease.

Rash

A change in the skin that may be indicative of an underlying condition.

Immunocompromised

An individual whose immune system is weakened, increasing susceptibility to infections.

Antibodies

Proteins produced by the immune system to identify and neutralize pathogens.

Field testing

On-site testing methods to assess disease presence or risk.

Transmitted diseases

Illnesses spread from one organism to another, often through vectors.

Clinical findings

Observations made by healthcare professionals during a patient examination.

Spirochetes

A group of bacteria, characterized by their helical shape, including Borrelia.

Epidemiology

The study of how often diseases occur in different groups of people.

Serodiagnostic test

A test that uses serum to diagnose disease.

Travelers’ risk

Increased likelihood of contracting diseases while traveling.

Flavivirus

A genus of viruses transmitted by insects, including West Nile virus.

Molecular detection

Techniques that identify the genetic material of pathogens for diagnosis.

Detection of DENV NS1 antigen

A diagnostic test measuring a viral protein present during infection.