Sketchy Microbiology: Chlamydia Trachomatis, Pneumonia, Psittaci

Pirates of Chlam Island — Chlamydia Trachomatis, Pneumonia, Psittaci

What are the three most common strains?

• Chlamydia Trachomatis

• Chlamydia Pneumonia

• Chlamydia Philapsittaci

White island — Gram Indeterminate: does not gram stain

Stuck on an island — Obligate intracellular bacteria

(Cannot create its own ATP which is why it’s intracellular)

“No mermaid sign” — Lacks muramic acid in the cell wall

What else do we know about Chlamydia?

• No capsule

• No flagella

• Two life cycle forms

  • Elementary Body

  • Reticulate Body

Pearls outside of the cell — Elementary bodies: 1st stage of life cycle outside of the cell. This is the INFECTIOUS form. Elementary enters the eukaryotic cell and are taken up by phagosomes.

(Elementary = Enters)

Pearl inside the clam — Reticulate body: 2nd stage and is active and multiply, the DIVIDING form. Reticular Replicates to form Inclusion Bodies seen under microscope in cells when infected.

(Reticulate = Replicates)

Pearls spread everywhere – Inclusion bodies seen when under a microscope

Describe the full developmental cycle

Elementary Bodies → Reticulate Bodies → Inclusion Body → Elementary Bodies → Free Elementary Bodies → [Elementary Bodies and cycle repeats]

Treasure chest of gems — Visualized using Giemsa stain

Gnats around treasure chest — Diagnose with NAAT test

(Aka PCR)

What are the three types of Chlamydia Trachomatous?

Symptoms of Chlamydia Trachomatous: 3 types

• A-C: Blindness

• D-K: STI

• L1-L3: LGV (Lymphogranuloma Venerum)

Mermaid = D-K Type (STI)

Scene takes place in water and leak in the ship — Most common Bacterial STI in US, watery discharge

(Remember; Gonorrhea has a mucopurulent discharge)

Flying a Jolley Roger uterus flag — Can turn into PID (Pelvic Inflammatory Disorder) w/o symptoms, ectopic pregnancies as well

Hint: Focus on baby

Mermaid shielding baby’s eyes wearing a clamshell bra — Baby can get infection if mother has it during delivery giving it neonatal conjunctivitis and pneumonia. Baby will present w/ in 1-2 weeks with a possible cough (Staccato cough) or conjunctivitis.

(Remember; Gonorrhea will present 2-4 days)

Adult Mermaid with barnacles = L1-L3 Type: LGV

Mermaid w/ barnacles around inguinal region — Lymphogranuloma Venerum: infection of inguinal nodes. Presents as a tender lymphadenopathy with draining lymph nodes.

Pirate Captain = A-C Type: Blindness

Pirate has 2x patches (Blind) — Trachoma: leading cause of blindness in world

Captain’s Hand shielding his eyes —Transmission: hand to eye contact, possibly from fomites

Common Long Term Effect

Monkeys and pirate slapping the knee — Reiter’s syndrome: reactive arthritis, uveitis, urethritis.

Monkey can’t see: uveitis.

Monkey can’t pee: urethritis.

Clam Shell bra on adult mermaid — Chlamydia Pneumonia: Walking pneumonia, more common in the elderly

Parrot — Chlamydia Psittaci: Transmitted by Birds, causes pneumonia and transmitted by bird droppings

Treatment:

a. Crows — Macrolides: azithromycin

b. Bicycle wheel — Tetracycline

c. Co-infection of Chlamydia and gonorrhea treat with — Cephtriaxone