5: Spirochetes and Vibrios

what is the life cycle of V. cholerae where the bacteria exist as part of the ocean microbial community called?

planktonic

what is the life cycle of V. cholerae where the bacteria carrying the CTX bacteriophage cause an outbreak?

pathogenic

what is the primary mode of transmission for V. cholerae?

fecal-oral route

what is the gene-carrying bacteriophage that infects V. cholerae?

CTX

what is the primary toxin secreted by pathogenic V. cholerae?

choleragen

what is the structure of the choleragen enterotoxin?

A-B subunit

what is the primary cause of morbidity and death in a V. cholerae infection?

dehydration and electrolyte imbalance

what is the most important aspect of treatment for a V. cholerae infection?

rehydrate and rebalance electrolytes

what is the condition caused by V. vulnificus in immunocompromised people who eat raw shellfish?

septicemia

what is the condition caused by V. vulnificus in shellfish market workers who have infected wounds?

cellulitis

what are the type of symptoms caused by V. parahaemolyticus after eating undercooked seafood?

diarrhea of varied severity

what is the Vibrio species that causes massive watery diarrhea and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route?

V. cholerae

what is the Vibrio species that causes nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea of varied severity and is transmitted via undercooked seafood?

V. parahaemolyticus

what is the Vibrio species that causes cellulitis from wounds or septicemia from eating raw shellfish?

V. vulnificus

what is the shape of Campylobacter bacteria?

comma- or S-shaped rods

what is the reservoir for Campylobacter bacteria?

guts of domestic animals

what is the potential complication of Campylobacter infection that is a systemic condition affecting the nerves?

Guillain-Barre syndrome

what is the potential complication of Campylobacter infection that is a type of arthritis?

reactive arthritis (Reiter’s syndrome)

what is the type of diarrhea initially caused by Campylobacter?

watery, foul-smelling diarrhea

what is the meditation used to treat Campylobacter in adults?

Azithromycin

what is a key feature of H. pylori that differentiates it from Campylobacter?

strongly urease-positive

what is the virulence factor secreted by H. pylori that breaks down urea?

urease

what is the method of diagnosis for H. pylori where the patient exhales radiolabeled carbon dioxide after ingesting radiolabeled urea?

urea breath test

what is a common condition that can result from chronic H. pylori infection?

peptic ulcer

what is the triple-drug therapy for H. pylori infection?

proton pump inhibitor, amoxicillin, clarithromycin

what is the term for bacteria that grows well in saltwater?

halophile

what is a key characteristic of spirochetes that allows them to cause multi-organ infections?

they cross easily into the bloodstream, causing immediate bacteremia

what is the primary function of spirochete virulence factors?"

immune invasion

what is a challenge in diagnosing spirochete infections?

they proceed in phases separated by months or years

what is the term for the reaction that can occur after spirochete treatment?

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

what is the name of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease?

B. burgdorferi

what is the vector for Lyme Disease in the northeast?

deer tick

what is the minimum amount of time a tick must be attached to transmit Lyme Disease?

24 hours

what are the three phases of Lyme Disease?

early localized, early disseminated, and late disseminated

what are the key symptoms of early localized Lyme Disease?

rash

what are the key symptoms of early disseminated Lyme Disease?

meningitis, facial palsy, rashes, cardiac symptoms

what are the key symptoms of late disseminated Lyme Disease?

arthritis, encephalitis

what is the typical treatment for Lyme Disease?

doxycycline

what is the maximum duration for doxycycline treatment for Lyme Disease?

one month

why are there no vaccines for spirochete infections?

they are not very antigenic and may immunomodulate the host