Mycoplasma

Readings question #1:Where do the Mycoplasma pneumonia colonies adhere? How do they spread? What diseases are caused by this bacterium? (3 points)

Rickettsia

• Only reproduce within a mammalian cell• Induce phagocytosis; enter cytoplasm;

reproduce by binary fission

Readings question #2: What is the most severe rickettsial infection, and what organism causes it? (2 points)

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

Rickettsia prowazekii

• Readings question #3:• How is the Rickettsia prowazekii microbe

transmitted to produce epidemic typhus?

• Signs and symptoms: high and prolonged fever that lasts at least 2 weeks; stupor; rash that darkens as disease progresses

• Anne Frank

Treatment

• tetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol• eliminate conditions• vaccines for military

Rickettsia typhi

• sporadic• murine: mouseReadings question #4:

How is the Rickettsia typhi microbe transmitted to produce endemic typhus?

• treatment: tetracycline, doxycycline, chloramphenicol

• rat control is best preventive measure

Coxiella burnetti

• parasite of several arthropods• birthing: organisms shed in high numbers• resistant to heat, drying, a many disinfectants• inhaling a single pathogen can cause infection• pasteurization temperature raised in 1956• responsible for Q fever

Q Fever

• Wide range of clinical symptoms• 60% asymptomatic• Acute: high fevers (104-105 degrees), severe

headache, general malaise, confusion, sore throat, chills, sweats, non-productive cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and chest pain

• pneumonia: 30-50% patients; hepatitis

Chronic Q Fever

• Infection persists for more than 6 months• 1 year or 20 years• Endocarditis• Transplant recipients, cancer, kidney disease• Treatment: acute- doxycycline

chronic- doxycycline & quinolones doxycycline &

hydroxychloroquine

Preventioneducationappropriate disposalrestrict accesspasteurized milklaboratory clothingvaccinationquarantineholding facilitiesroutine testing

Chlamydia

Readings question #5:

What are the 3 species of chlamydias that are significant pathogens for humans? Describe the growth stages of this microorganism.(5pts)

Chlamydias are transmitted to humans by interpersonal contact or by airborne respiratory routes.

Chlamydial pneumonia

• outbreaks among college students• transmitted by the respiratory route• 50% U.S. population has antibodies• treatment: tetracycline

Chlamydia trachomatic

• Causative agent for:trachoma

Lymphogranuloma veneruem NGU (non-gonococcal

urethritis) or NSU (non-specific urethritis)

Trachoma

• Greek: “rough eye”• arid parts of Africa and Asia, almost all

children are infected early in their lives• 500 million active cases worldwide and 7

million blinded victims• occurs occasionally in the southwestern U.S.• transmitted by hand contact or by sharing

personal objects

Trachoma (cont’d)

• conjunctivitis leads to permanent scarring• long-term mechanical abrasion of the cornea• turned-in eyelashes• secondary infections• tetracycline ointment• partial immunity• sanitary practices and health education

Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV)

• Genital infections associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer

• NGU/NSU: any inflammation of the urethra that is not caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae– painful urination and watery discharge– coinfection with C. trachomatis

Chlamycia psittaci

• Infected birds will usually have diarrhea, ruffled feathers, respiratory illness, and a generally “droopy appearance”

Prions

“small proteinaceous infectious agents without a nucleic acid genome……

produce spongiform encephalopathies”

Pathogenicity

• abnormally folded proteins that cause the proteins to clump

• diseases have a long incubation time• CNS damage is insidious• no fever and inflammation

Readings Question #6

• Why are prions of a particular concern to embalmers? (3 points)

Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

• transfers/removals• embalming non-posted Remains• embalming posted remains• decontamination

NJ Dept. of Health/NJSFDAEmbalming Non-posted Remains

• Protective attire• Positioning• Topical disinfection• Washing and positioning• Injection site selection• Injection chemicals• No cavity aspiration• Aspiration alternative

Embalming Non-posted(cont’d)

• other precautions:• purge• medical devices• washing• instruments• surfaces• disposables

Embalming Posted Remains

• viscera• preservative powder• completion• viscera bag• cranial cavity• calvarium

Decontamination

• sodium hypochlorite• incineration• detergent• solution of 1:10 sodium hypochlorite/water