ANTHROP 2U03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Spirochaete, Vertically Transmitted Infection, Susan Sontag

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Anthropology
• Course: ANTHROP 2U03
• Professor: Ann Herring

Document Summary

But also transmitted congenitally: vertical transmission = mother to infant, intrauterine death, perinatal death, later manifestation (after 2 years of age) Agent of infection traponema pallidum pallidum: a spirochaete. Slow growing = doubles in 30 hours: two modes of transmission. Vertical mother to fetus: infection: penis, cervix, vulva; through mouth, throat or anus. Erupts 3-6 weeks after contact at site of inoculation. Highly infectious sheds t. pallidum continuously. Disappears 4-6 weeks later, leaving no scar. Bacteremic stage bacteria are reproducing madly. Systemic, widespread rash: secondary condyloma lata: highly contagious, painless, wart-like lesions in warm, moist sites (genitalia) Small, flat, red lesions, especially on palms, soles, mucous membranes in mouth: tertiary. Skin gummas painless but bone lesions = deep, gnawing pain. Can lead to irreversible damage to cardiovascular, central nervous or musculoskeletal system. One expression of biological gradient of treponema pallidum the treponematoses : venereal syphilis: treponema allidum pallidum above. Just one example of this group of infections.