Chapter 23: Microbial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

23.1 Structure and Function of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

• ==The center of the cardiovascular system is the heart==
• At times the lymph nodes themselves get infected and become visibly swollen and tender; swollen lymph nodes are called buboes
• Lymph nodes are also an important component of the body’s immune system.

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23.2 Bacterial Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

• An acute illness that is associated with the presence and persistence of pathogenic microorganisms or their toxins in the blood is termed septicemia
• When sepsis results in a drop in blood pressure (shock) and dysfunction of at least one organ, it is considered to be severe sepsis
• There is an emerging awareness of group B streptococci (GBS). S. agalactiae is the only GBS and is the most common cause of life-threatening neonatal sepsis
• An inflammation of the endocardium is called endocarditis.
  • A more rapidly progressive type of bacterial endocarditis is acute bacterial endocarditis, which is usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
• ==Streptococci can also cause pericarditis, inflammation of the sac around the heart==
  • Streptococcal infections, such as those caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, sometimes lead to rheumatic fever, which is generally considered an autoimmune complication.
• Tularemia is an example of a zoonotic disease, that is, a disease transmitted by contact with infected animals, in this case most commonly rabbits and rodents.
• Cutaneous anthrax results from contact with material containing anthrax endospores.
• A relatively rare form of anthrax is gastrointestinal anthrax caused by ingestion of undercooked food containing anthrax endospores.
  • The most dangerous form of anthrax in humans is inhalational (pulmonary) anthrax.

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23.3 Viral Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

• The identification of EB virus as the cause of infectious mononucleosis, or mono, resulted from one of the accidental discoveries that often advance science.
• This disease of the newborns was given the name of cytomegalic inclusion disease (CID).
  • Patients who recover without major incident are classified as having dengue.
• If the patient suffers from severe bleeding and organ impairment, the case is classified as severe dengue.
• Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola, for a regional river, this is now a well-publicized disease, with mortality approaching 90%.
• Argentine and Bolivian hemorrhagic fevers are transmitted in rural areas by contact with rodent excretions.
• Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, caused by the Sin Nombre virus,* a bunyavirus, has become well known in the United States because of several outbreaks, mostly in the western states.

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23.4 Protozoan Diseases of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

• Toxoplasmosis, a disease of blood and lymphatic vessels, is caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii.
• Malaria is characterized by chills and fever and often by vomiting and severe headache.
• Leishmaniasis is a widespread and complex disease that exhibits several clinical forms

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23.5 Helminthic Disease of the Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems

• Schistosomiasis is a debilitating disease caused by a small fluke
  • Schistomiasis is treated with praziquantel.
• ==Sanitation and elimination of the host snail are also useful forms of control.==

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23.6 Disease of Unknown Etiology

• Probably the most common cause of acquired heart disease in the United States (replacing rheumatic fever) is an acute febrile illness of unknown etiology, Kawasaki syndrome (KS).

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