ROBERT IGBEDE

1. BY
ROBERT IGBEDE

2. INTRODUCTION
 Spirochetes are thin, helical, long, gram –ve, bacteria
motile by periplasmic flagella
 They use this for screw-like motion
 There are 3 main types which are pathogenic to
humans
-Treponema (3 to 4 flagella)
-Borrelia (>5 flagella)
-Leptospira (2 flagella)

3. TREPONEMES
 There are 4 known species causing human treponemal
diseases such as:
-Treponema pallidum which causes syphilis
-Treponema pertenue that causes yaws
-Treponema carateum causing pinta
-Treponema pallidum endemicum-responsible for
bejel or endemic syphilis.

5. TREPONEMA PALLIDUM
 It is an obligate anaerobe
 Infects only humans
 Its is the causative agent of syphilis
 It is transmitted by sexual contact (venereal disease)
 Most common amongst sexually active men and users
of illegal drugs (needles)
 Complete population doubling occurs after 30 hours
 It cannot be cultivated outside human host (ie. invitro)

7. VIRULENCE
 They are able to adhere to human cells via outer
membrane adhensive proteins
 They produce an enzyme called hyaluronidase which
allows the pathogen to infiltrate the intercellular
spaces
 They contain coating with host cell fibronectin
(glycocalyx) which prevents phagocytosis
 Tissue distruction primarily results from host’s
immune response to infection

8. DIAGNOSIS .TREATMENT
.PREVENTION
 Diagnosis: antibody serologic tests, microscopy
 Treatment: penicillin G
 Sexual abstinence and safe sex