microbio unit 15C: microbial diseases of the nervous + cardiovascular systems

I: microbial diseases of the nervous system (CLOSTRIDIUM TETANI, CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM)

clostridium tetani causes what diseases?

tetanus/lockjaw

clostridium tetani is a gram ______ rod

positive

clostridium tetani is an anaerobe and has _________

endospores

where is clostridium tetani found?

soil + animal waste

what microbe is associated with severed umbilical cords dressed with soil, clay, or cow dung to stop bleeding?

clostridium tetani

clostridium tetani produces a neurotoxin that does what?

causes muscle spasms or contractions

what are the symptoms of tetanus/lockjaw?

contraction of jaw muscles

death due to spasms or respiratory + heart muscles

how do you get tetanus?

having a wound or cut, skin being punctured by rusty nail

is there a vaccine for tetanus/lockjaw?

yes → DPT or DTaP for adults

what is the treatment for tetanus?

DPT or DTaP vaccine

tetanus immune globulin (TIG)

debridement and antibiotics

what is meant by debridement in relation to tetanus?

surgical or medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue where clostridium tetani may be growing

at what point are the treatments for tetanus no longer useful?

if the toxin is attached to the nerve cell

what microbe is responsible for tetanus/lockjaw?

clostridium tetani

what microbe is responsible for botulism?

clostridium botulinum

clostridium botulinum is a gram _______ rod

positive

clostridium botulinum is an ________ and has endospores

anaerobe

what exotoxin does clostridium botulinum produce?

neurotoxin

what does the neurotoxin produced by clostridium botulinum do?

prevents the release of acetylcholine which blocks nerve impulses across synapses

ingestion of the endospore of clostridium botulinum is not harmful, but…

the toxin produced IS deadly

what are the symptoms of botulism?

weakness

difficulty swallowing

blurred vision in 1-2 days

70% mortality rate if untreated

weakness, _______ _________, blurred vision in 1-2 days, 70% mortality if untreated

weakness, difficulty swallowing, blurred vision in 1-2 days, 70% mortality if untreated

what is the mortality rate of botulism if untreated?

70%

what causes botulism?

improper heating in food processing

botulism

pressure cooking kills ________; ______ destroyed by boiling

spores; toxins

what is added to sausage to prevent the growth of clostridium botulinum?

nitrates

what causes infant botulism?

eating soil or honey contaminated with clostridium botulinum

why do babies get botulism?

intestinal flora not yet established → microbe easily takes advantage of this

what is the treatment for infant botulism?

antitoxins that are specific to the toxin produced by clostridium botulinum

what is the botulism toxin called?

botox

what is botox used for?

cosmetics, migraines, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, excessive sweating, parkinson’s disease