Treponema pallidum is a very dangerous bacterium, a causative agent of syphilis. It rapidly penetrates the human body and multiplies at the same rate in it, while greatly affecting the internal organs.
Bacteria description
Treponema pallidum is a bacterium that has a cell membrane. Able to live in the environment for some time. This bacterium belongs to spirochetes. It looks like a spiral with small curls, which can be from eight to twelve pieces. Just by their quantity and form, this bacterium is determined when smear microscopy is done.
This microorganism is almost not stained with dyes, which are used in microbiology. In order to see the bacteria, contrast microscopy is used. This is due to the fact that the shell of the microorganism is very thin and under the influence of alcohol is quickly damaged (and it is just used when fixing the color). When silvering the bacterium, it acquires a red-black color.
How long does the bacterium live
Treponema pallidum, on contact with objects (mainly bedding and towels), is stored until the substrate in which it was dried is dry. Most often, this is saliva, the fluid released from ulcers and erosion, sperm, etc. At a temperature of fifty-five degrees, the bacterium can live for about fifteen minutes. At higher dies much faster. During boiling, the bacterium dies in a matter of seconds, that is, almost instantly.
What is harmful to bacteria
For treponema pallidum, some media and substances are destructive:
- bismuth and arsenic;
- mercury;
- penicillin;
- alkalis and acids;
- antiseptics and disinfectant solutions;
- vinegar and alcohol;
- Ultraviolet and light.
According to research and experiments conducted by scientists, it turned out that this bacterium can sometimes persist for some time and in adverse conditions for it. For example, in a poor environment, under light, in a dried state, or when oxygen is available. If such an instance of a microorganism comes across, then it can live in an environment unfavorable to it for up to three years.
Treponema growth and major antigens
Treponema pallidum is poorly grown due to its moodiness. Chicken embryo and human cells are not suitable for growing this microorganism. There are two ways to distinguish a culture. The first is to infect laboratory rabbits with the bacterium and wait for the development of specific orchitis in these animals. The second - treponema can be grown on special media under liquid paraffin. The presence of these microorganisms is necessary to obtain the antigens by which syphilis is determined.
Pathogenicity of treponema pallidum
The pathogenicity of the bacteria treponema pallidum has its own characteristics:
- due to the presence of adhesin protein, which interacts with fibronectin of the mucous membranes, "adhesion" to the host cells is ensured;
- the presence of myofibrils and the spiral form of treponema pallidum contribute to deep penetration and cause migration throughout the body;
- antifagocytic activity occurs due to the ability of this bacterium to bind fibronectin;
- inflammation begins due to the presence of lipoprotein membranes;
- Treponema pallidum is resistant to antibacterial drugs due to the variability of antigenic properties and the ability to form L-forms, which makes it impossible to create a vaccine;
- these bacteria are able not only to live in interstitium, but also to multiply there.
Antibodies to pale treponema
Pale treponemas are mainly collected on the mucous membranes. Therefore, they are easily transmitted not only during intercourse, but also in everyday life. Most often through towels, dishes or kisses. Unfortunately, the human body cannot develop immunity to these bacteria. Therefore, even after the complete cure of syphilis, the disease can return again.
To determine the disease, blood is taken for syphilis. Most infected have antibodies to treponema pallidum. With primary and repeated disease, in 88 and 78% of patients, respectively. In the rest, they are either not detected or absent altogether. But the lack of antibodies does not mean that the treatment was successful. At the latent stage of the disease, antibodies are mainly found in only 20 percent of patients.
After 1-2 weeks from the onset of the disease, a serum analysis is done. IgM and IgA antibodies to treponema pallidum appear in serum during this period. Over a period of six months to nine months, the titers of immunoglobulins increase, then their number begins to decrease. After a time, the level of antibodies falls below the determined values. Some cannot be transmitted from mother to child.
IgG antibodies appear 3-4 weeks after infection with syphilis. And by 6-9 weeks reach their peak. A high concentration of antibodies persists for a long time and decreases extremely slowly and only after therapy. A residual titer can remain in the body for life.
Treponemal antibodies can be produced only to treponema pallidum. Therefore, when they are found, it can be accurately stated that syphilis is presently or has been transferred earlier.
Symptoms of pale treponema infection
There are a number of symptoms indicating the presence of treponema pallidum in the human body. When they appear, it is necessary to donate blood for syphilis. Symptoms may vary depending on the stage of the disease.
On first:
- painful ulcers appear with a hard chancre located on the mucous membrane of the mouth, rectum or genitals;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- ulcers themselves are healed after at least three weeks, the process can last up to six months.
On the second:
- a syphilitic symmetrical pale rash appears on the body;
- headaches, general malaise, fever;
- enlarged lymph nodes;
- hair can sometimes fall out, and wide genital warts appear on the genitals.
On the third, a defeat occurs:
- nervous system;
- brain and spinal cord;
- internal organs;
- bones.
At the first and second stages, complex treatment is effective, including antibiotics, physiotherapy, immunostimulants and general strengthening drugs. But if you do not go to the doctor in time, then after a few years the third stage of the disease begins, which can be almost impossible to cure.
How is pale treponema detected ?
To determine if there are bacteria in the body that cause syphilis, an analysis is done. Treponema pallidum by the efforts of modern medicine can be identified in several ways:
- In the first stage of syphilis, the patient is very contagious and releases many bacteria into the outside world. In this case, smear microscopy is used. To obtain accurate results, ulcers are treated with saline to wash off interfering microflora. Then scraping is made and a smear is made.
- Nontreponemal tests. Screening methods are used here. They are good for initial diagnosis and subsequent monitoring during treatment and medical examination. But these tests often give a false positive result. Treponema pallidum may be absent in the body. This is because hypertension (antibodies to antigens) is not taken by the causative agent of the disease.
- Treponemal tests are used specifically to detect treponema pallidum. These methods are used to confirm the diagnosis and exclude syphilis during a false screening test.