F4 Spirochetes, Mycoplasma, Ricketssia, and Miscellaneous Bacteria

Spirochaetales

An order of bacteria that are difficult to gram stain, helical in shape, and anaerobic or facultative microaerophilic.

Leptospiraceae

A family within the order Spirochaetales that includes the genus Leptospira.

Spirochaetaceae

A family within the order Spirochaetales that contains Borrelia and Treponema.

Borrelia

A genus of bacteria in the family Spirochaetaceae known for causing diseases such as Lyme disease.

Treponema

A genus of bacteria in the family Spirochaetaceae known for causing venereal syphilis and other diseases.

Periplasmic flagella

Flagella located in the periplasmic space of spirochetes, crucial for their corkscrew-like motility.

Cork-screw-like motility

A method of movement seen in spirochetes facilitated by periplasmic flagella.

Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum

The causative agent of venereal syphilis.

Dark field microscopy

A technique used to visualize Treponema and other spirochetes that are difficult to see with bright field microscopy.

Primary syphilis

The first stage of syphilis characterized by a firm, painless lesion known as a chancre.

Condyloamata lata

Widespread skin and mucous membrane lesions found in secondary syphilis.

Latent syphilis

A stage of syphilis where clinical symptoms are absent but serological tests remain positive.

Tertiary (late) syphilis

A stage that can occur 5 to 30 years after the initial infection, potentially affecting the CNS and causing various neurological symptoms.

Congenital syphilis

Syphilis passed from mother to fetus, leading to various complications in newborns.

Benzathine Penicillin G

The drug of choice for the treatment of syphilis.

Jarisch-Herxheimer Syndrome

An adverse reaction to penicillin treatment of syphilis exhibited by fever and malaise.

Yaws

A disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pertenue, affecting skin and bones.

Bejel

A disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum, characterized by non-venereal syphilis.

Pinta

A skin disease caused by Treponema carateum, marked by depigmented lesions.

Lyme disease

A disease caused by Borrelia burgdorferi primarily transmitted by ticks, associated with characteristic rashes.

Plasmid

Small, circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that can carry antibiotic resistance genes.

Leptospira interrogans

A species responsible for leptospirosis, a disease affecting both humans and animals.

Weil's syndrome

A severe form of leptospirosis featuring liver failure and jaundice.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Atypical bacteria known for causing community-acquired pneumonia.

Ureaplasma urealyticum

A type of mycoplasma associated with non-gonococcal urethritis.

Chlamydia trachomatis

A bacterium causing various infections including trachoma and non-gonococcal urethritis.

Rickettsia

Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria transmitted by vectors, often causing typhus.

Gardenella vaginalis

A bacterium associated with bacterial vaginosis, characterized by clue cells.

Legionella pneumophila

A bacterium causing Legionnaires' disease, requiring specific growth conditions.

Tropheryma whipplei

The causative agent of Whipple's disease, not cultured but identifiable through cytogenetic analysis.

Bartonella bacilliformis

A bacterium that destroys red blood cells (RBCs) and is transmitted by sandflies, responsible for Carrion's disease.

Carrion's disease

A disease caused by Bartonella bacilliformis, characterized by fever and hemolytic anemia.

Verruga peruana

A skin eruption associated with Bartonella bacilliformis infection.

Oroya fever

A severe form of Carrion's disease that can lead to anemia.

Legionella pneumophila

A gram-negative aerobic bacterium requiring L-cysteine and iron for growth, causing Pontiac fever.

DFA (Direct Fluorescent Antibody)

A diagnostic test used to identify Legionella pneumophila.

BCYE (Buffered Charcoal Yeast Extract)

Growth medium for Legionella pneumophila, known for blue-green colonies with a cut glass appearance.

Legionella micdadei

A species of Legionella associated with atypical pneumonia, often referred to in the context of Legionella infections.

Listeria monocytogenes

A gram-positive rod bacterium that is motile at room temperature and associated with food poisoning.

Tumbling motility

A characteristic movement observed in Listeria monocytogenes, resembling tumbling in broth.

Beta-hemolytic

Type of hemolysis exhibited by Listeria monocytogenes on sheep blood agar plates (SBAP).

Listeriolysin O

An oxygen-labile hemolysin produced by Listeria monocytogenes that aids in evading the immune response.

Anton’s test

An ocular virulence test used to assess the virulence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

A gram-positive rod that is non-motile and a producer of hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

Erysipeloid

An infection caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, often referred to as butcher's cut or diamond cut.

McBride test

A test used to identify Listeria species, where Listeria monoc