Far Chlamydia Trachoma example essay topic

Chlamydia (STD) far Chlamydia trachoma is a sexually transmitted disease that is transmitted by direct contact through oral, vaginal and anal intercourse and is also transmitted to newborns through vaginal birth by an infected mother. This disease is not passed on by indirect contact, such as a toilet seat. far Chlamydia trachoma is biologically active in vaginal and penile secretions and fluids. far The usual reservoir for C. trachoma is the mucous membranes of the body found in the genital region, throat, and eyes. far The etiological agent of Chlamydia is C. trachoma tis which has the following general characteristics: obligate intracellular parasite gram negative coccid bacteria nonmotile intracellular does not possess a layer unable to produce its own ATP. far The following tests are used to identify C. trachoma tis: 1) ELISA test and FA test may be effective only when the bacterium is metabolically active (not infectious), these tests are used to detect group specific LPS and strain-specific outer membrane proteins 2) gram staining (negative, coccid) 3) culture and iodine staining for inclusion bodies (used because the trachoma species of Chlamydia cannot be stained with iodine because it does not contain glycogen) 4) Serological tests that detect high titer IgM antibodies indicates a recent infection (used in adults, cannot distinguish between current and previous infections, not very useful) 5) nucleic acid probes (these are currently new and further info was not available) far The bacterium C. trachoma tis was first discovered in 1907 by Stanislaus von Prowazek in Berlin. The genus part of the name, Chlamydia, comes from the Greek word chlamys, which means cloak and the species part of the name, trachoma tis is also Greek and means rough or harsh. This name is perfectly associated with the actions of this disease. far A cloak is meant to hide, conceal or even disguise; and that is what C. trachoma tis does on the inside of the body, it hides, it is usually asymptomatic (no symptoms). It enters the body through mucous membranes on the body as elementary bodies that bind to receptors on the host cells and are taken in by or phagocytosis.

The elementary bodies become reticulate bodies that do not combine with the lysosomes and are able to resist being digested and killed. The reticulate bodies reproduce by binary fission and change back into elementary bodies which leave by reverse. The elementary bodies have a rough outer membrane that allows them to be resistant against! SS harsh!" environmental conditions which is associated with the name trachoma tis. far The signs and symptoms of this disease are not usually obvious (asymptomatic), most people do not even know they are infected and that is why this disease is the most common STD in the United States. 50% of men and 75% of women do not experience any symptoms. The symptoms and signs below are the most common: Men: genital itching, painful urination, painful or swollen testicles, discharge from the penis, inflamed rectum, sore and red throat, inflamed eyelids.

Women: inflamed rectum, painful urination, vaginal discharge, back and abdominal pain, painful intercourse, bleeding between cycles, nausea or fever. Infants: (most infants usually contract the disease during birth by an infected mother) conjunctivitis or pneumonia may result. If this disease is not treated properly and is not detected early than serious illnesses may develop. far There are many possible and easy ways to prevent the spread of C. trachoma tis such as: abstinence or if you are sexually active: latex condoms for oral, vaginal and anal intercourse monogamous relationship with someone you know does not have the disease DO NOT use spermicides to prevent disease, they only help to prevent pregnancy. if you are sexually active with numerous partners you should have yourself examined after each new partner or at least every year. far Fortunately this disease is curable with simple antibiotics such as: tetracycline, erythromycin, sulfonamides, and, However, C. trachoma tis is resistant to, bacitracin, , and penicillin. far Currently, An tex Biologics, a company who is known for making anthrax vaccines, is in the process of testing a new vaccine called TRAC VAX for the prevention of Chlamydia. The company does not have any public information about the current results.