Proteus species — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Which gram-negative bacteria has a fishy odor?_____

Answer: Proteus mirabilis

Flashcard 2: Proteus mirabilis is said to have a _____ odor

Answer: fishy

Flashcard 3: Is Proteus mirabilis urease-positive?_____

Answer: Yes

Flashcard 4: Most rods (and coccobacillus) are gram _____

Answer: negative

Flashcard 5: What is the most common cause of UTIs?_____

Answer: E. coli

Flashcard 6: What are the common reservoirs and the vector for Yersinia pestis?

Answer: Reservoirs: Rats and prairie dogs; Vector: Fleas (Xenopsylla cheopis)

Extra: Yersinia pestis is a Gram-negative coccobacillus showing bipolar staining (safety-pin appearance). It causes the plague. \nReservoirs in the US: Prairie dogs. \nVector: Rat flea.

Flashcard 7: What disease is caused by Rickettsia typhi?

Answer: Endemic typhus (Murine typhus) :: vector?

Extra: Vector: Rat flea (Xenopsylla cheopis)

Flashcard 8: Name the disease caused by Francisella tularensis.

Answer: Tularemia

Extra: Reservoir: Rabbits Vector: Ticks, deer flies Route: Dermally via bite or handling infected carcass; also inhalation (potential bioterrorism agent).

Flashcard 9: What disease is caused by Coxiella burnetii?

Answer: Q fever

Extra: Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. Its primary reservoirs are cattle, sheep, and goats. It is transmitted via inhalation of contaminated aerosols from birthing products (amniotic fluid, placenta).

Flashcard 10: What disease is caused by Brucella spp. and what is its most common mode of transmission?

Answer: Brucellosis; Consumption of unpasteurized dairy products (e.g., goat milk, cheese)

Extra: Brucella is a Gram-negative aerobic coccobacillus. It is a facultative intracellular organism that survives in macrophages. Clinical features include undulant fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy.