micro exam 3 arthropod

Bacillus Anthracis

Aerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium that causes anthrax.

Transmission of Anthrax

Direct contact with endospores

Treatment for Anthrax

Penicillin and ciprofloxacin

Prevention of Anthrax

Avoid contact with infected livestock and animal products.

Clostridium tetani

Gram-positive anaerobic rod that causes tetanus.

Symptoms of Tetanus

Muscle stiffness in jaw and neck, also known as trismus.

Transmission of Tetanus

Direct contact with spores through wound.

Tetanus Treatment

Tetanus antitoxin and penicillin.

Tetanus Prevention

Immunizing with the toxoid vaccine.

Clostridium perfringens

Bacterium that causes gas gangrene, associated with foul odor and intense pain.

Gas Gangrene Prevention

Cleaning the wound and debridement.

Leptospira interrogans

Bacterium that causes leptospirosis.

Symptoms of Leptospirosis

Acute headache, muscle ache, vomiting, fever, and chills.

Transmission of Leptospirosis

Contaminated food, water, or soil by diseased animal urine.

Leptospirosis Treatment

Penicillin and doxycycline.

Inhalation Anthrax Symptoms

Resembles a common cold; respiratory distress and may be fatal without treatment.

Cutaneous Anthrax

Skin infection; develops itchy bumps that become painless black ulcers.

Symptoms of Cutaneous Anthrax

Blackened eschar surrounded by edema, painless, starts like an insect bite.

Anthrax Lethality Factors

Antiphagocytic polysaccharide capsule and anthrax toxin secretion.

Antiphagocytic Polysaccharide Capsule

Prevents immune cells from killing Bacillus Anthracis.

Anthrax Toxins

Includes Protective Antigen (PA), Edema Factor (EF), Lethal Factor (LF).

LeTx (LT)

Lethal toxin that induces apoptosis of activated macrophages.

Trismus

A condition of clenched teeth and jaw, also known as 'fixed smile'.

Opisthotonus

Arched back position; reduces ventilation and can lead to death.

Exotoxins of Tetanus

Tetanospasmin and tetanolysin.

Tetanospasmin

Prevents the release of glycine and GABA, blocking muscle relaxation.

Tetanolysin

Cytotoxin that causes tissue damage.

Intestinal Anthrax Symptoms

Intense inflammation of the GI tract, abdominal pain, vomiting, severe bloody diarrhea.

Lethal Dose of Tetanus

130 ng.

Mild Tetanus

Features mild trismus, general spasticity, and no severe respiratory embarrassment.

Moderate Tetanus

Moderate trismus, rigidity, and short spasms with moderate respiratory involvement.

Severe Tetanus

Severe trismus and prolonged spasms with significant cardiovascular symptoms.

Very Severe Tetanus

Grade 3 symptoms plus severe autonomic disturbances.

Burkholderia Pseudomallei

Gram-negative bacilli that causes melioidosis.

Melioidosis

A condition that can remain dormant for years; 100% fatal if untreated.

Acute Melioidosis Symptoms

Pneumonia and septicemia.

Melioidosis Treatment

Ceftazidime and doxycycline.

Yersinia Pestis

Bacterium that causes plague, transmitted through infected flea bites.

Symptoms of Bubonic Plague

Sudden onset with fever, chills, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes (buboes).

Xenopsylla cheopis

Flea that transmits plague.

Septicemia Plague Symptoms

Abdominal pain, bleeding, fever, diarrhea, low BP, organ failure.

Gangrene

Death of tissue causing blackening of extremities.

Francisella tularensis

Causes tularemia, transmitted from tick bites and through rabbit skinning.

Glandular Tularemia Symptoms

Swollen glands from tick bites.

Inhalation Tularemia

Respiratory disease caused by Francisella tularensis.

Pneumonic Plague Symptoms

Headache, lung hemorrhaging, cardiovascular collapse.

Borrelia burgdorferi

Spirochete that causes Lyme disease.

Lyme Disease Transmission

Caused by bites from ixodes scapularis or ixodes pacificus ticks.

Stage 1 Lyme Disease Symptoms

Erythema migrans rash; bulls-eye pattern.

Stage 2 Lyme Disease Effects

Disease spreads to nervous system and heart, causing meningitis and muscle pain.

Stage 3 Lyme Disease Symptoms

Chronic arthritis, swelling of large joints, encephalopathy.

Lyme Disease Treatment

Amoxicillin or doxycycline, and vaccination (LYMErix).

Relapsing Fever

Caused by Borrelia hermsii; transmitted by ticks and lice.

Acknowledged Relapsing Fever Symptoms

Fever, chills, headaches, muscle and joint pain.

Treatment for Relapsing Fever

Doxycycline antibiotic based on blood smear presence.

Rickettsial Diseases

Obligate intracellular parasites transmitted through insects.

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Symptoms

Begins with rash, fever, nausea, and abdominal pain.

Epidemic Typhus Transmission

Spread by body lice (Pediculus).

Endemic Murine Typhus Symptoms

Abdominal pain, extremely high fever, nausea, deep malaise.

Scrub Typhus

Caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, carried by chigger mites.

Trench Fever

Caused by Bartonella quintana, vectored by lice.