Pathogenic spirochetes. Classification, biological properties and their role in human diseases.

Vinnitsa National Pirogov Memorial Medical University / Department of microbiology

Classification of spirochetes

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Order: Spirochaetalis

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Families

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Spirochaetaceae

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Leptospiraceae Genera: 1. Borrelia Leptospira 2.Treponema

Medical important species

1. Genus Treponema Species T. pallidum 1. Subsp. pallidum 2. Subsp. pertenue 3. Subsp. endemicum 4. Subsp. carateum Subspecies:

Medical important species

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Genus Borrelia: Species: 1. B. reccurentis 2. B.caucasica, B.persica

3. B.burgdorferi

and others Genus Leptospira : L.interrogans

Morfhology of Treponema pallidum

Antigen structure 1. Lipid haptens.

2. Group antigen 3. Polysaccharide antigen

Epidemiology of syphilis

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The source of infection is human suffered from primary or secondary syphilis Infection occurs:

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through sexual contact (venereal disease);

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through placenta (congenital syphilis);

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rarely with direct contact and with infected blood during transfusion

Pathogenesis 1. Primary syphilis 2. Secondary syphilis 3. Latent syphilis 4. Tertiary syphilis

Laboratory diagnostics 1. Dark-field microscopy 2. Direct fluorescent antibody test

Laboratory diagnostics

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Serology 1. Reagin tests 2. Group specific treponemal tests 3. Specific T.pallidum tests

Leptospira Morphology: 1. It is slender (0. 1 µm by 8 to 20 µm), tightly coiled, flexible cell. 2. It is motile, non-capsulated, non-sporeforming 3. One or both ends are usually hooked, giving the cell typical shape as S or C letters .

Epidemiology

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Primary reservoir wild animals Mode of transmission: contact Direct or indirect

Laboratory diagnostics 1. Microscopy 2. Culture method 3. Experimental (biological) method 4. Serological method

Borrelia

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Epidemiology and pathogenesis Borreliosis transmitted to humans primarily by lice or ticks .

Borrelia recurrentis

is responsible for the louse-borne or epidemic type of relapsing fever with humans serving as the reservoir host. Other Borrelia are the causes of tick-borne or endemic type of relapsing fever . Rodents are the primary reservoir for these borreliae.

Laboratory diagnostics of relapsing fever 1. Microscopy method.

2. Experimental infection

Lyme disease

Laboratory diagnostics of Lyme disease

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Serological method

Spirochetes