Deck 18: Syphilis

Question 1

Treponemes may remain viable for ______________ in tissue specimens from diseased animals.

A) 1 day
B) 3 days
C) 5 days
D) up to 30 days

Answer 1

5 days

Question 2

Match the stages of syphilis with the appropriate signs and symptoms.(Use each answer only once. )
Latent syphilis

A)Diagnosis only by serologic methods
B)Presence of gummas
C)Development of a chancre
D)Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in most patients
E)Very early in infection,even before the first lesions

Answer 2

Diagnosis only by serologic methods

Question 3

MATCHING
Match the diseases caused by bacteria closely related to Treponema pallidum with the appropriate description.

Pinta

A)Common in the Caribbean,Latin America,Central Africa,and Far East
B)Found only in Latin America;infection limited to the skin
C)Found in eastern Mediterranean countries,the Balkans,and the cooler areas of North Africa

Answer 3

Found only in Latin America;infection limited to the skin

Question 4

Direct examination of treponemes is most often done by ______________ microscopy.

A) unstained,high-power,´43 resolution
B) unstained,oil immersion resolution
C) phase contrast
D) darkfield

Question 5

Tertiary syphilis is best evaluated by using:

A) cerebrospinal fluid.
B) serum.
C) urine.
D) joint fluid.

Question 6

The term for nontreponemal antibodies produced by syphilis-infected patients against components of their own or other mammalian cells is:

A) autoagglutinins.
B) reagin antibodies.
C) alloantibodies.
D) nonsyphilis antibodies.

Question 7

The substance detected by the RPR assay is:

A) T.pallidum.
B) a cardiolipin.
C) a reagin.
D) none of the above.

Question 8

Match the stages of syphilis with the appropriate signs and symptoms.(Use each answer only once. )
Secondary syphilis

A)Diagnosis only by serologic methods
B)Presence of gummas
C)Development of a chancre
D)Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in most patients
E)Very early in infection,even before the first lesions

Question 9

Before clinical or serologic manifestations,the incubation period for syphilis usually lasts:

A) 3 to 7 days.
B) 7 to 10 days.
C) about 3 weeks.
D) about 6 weeks.

Question 10

MATCHING
Match the diseases caused by bacteria closely related to Treponema pallidum with the appropriate description.

Yaws

A)Common in the Caribbean,Latin America,Central Africa,and Far East
B)Found only in Latin America;infection limited to the skin
C)Found in eastern Mediterranean countries,the Balkans,and the cooler areas of North Africa

Question 11

Syphilis develops in which percentage of the sexual partners of persons with syphilitic lesions?

A) 10% to 25%
B) 25% to 40%
C) 30% to 50%
D) 50% to 75%

Question 12

If an RPR assay is negative but has a rough appearance,what is an appropriate follow-up step?

A) Report as a negative assay result.
B) Repeat the assay.
C) Repeat the assay with serial dilutions.
D) Request a new blood specimen for repeat testing.

Question 13

The type of antigen used in the RPR card procedure is:

A) carbon particle cardiolipin.
B) tanned sheep erythrocytes.
C) sensitized latex particles.
D) sensitized charcoal particles.

Question 14

In infected donor blood,Treponema pallidum does not appear to survive in citrated blood stored at 4° C for more than ____ days(s).

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 5

Question 15

MATCHING
Match the diseases caused by bacteria closely related to Treponema pallidum with the appropriate description.

Bejel

A)Common in the Caribbean,Latin America,Central Africa,and Far East
B)Found only in Latin America;infection limited to the skin
C)Found in eastern Mediterranean countries,the Balkans,and the cooler areas of North Africa

Question 16

Untreated congenital syphilis can lead to:

A) stillbirth.
B) neonatal death.
C) infant disorders.
D) all of the above.

Question 17

Match the stages of syphilis with the appropriate signs and symptoms.(Use each answer only once. )
Spirochetemia

A)Diagnosis only by serologic methods
B)Presence of gummas
C)Development of a chancre
D)Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in most patients
E)Very early in infection,even before the first lesions

Question 18

The nontreponemal antibody produced by syphilis-infected patients can also be produced by patients with:

A) other infectious diseases.
B) leprosy,tuberculosis,leptospirosis,or malaria.
C) autoimmune disorders,drug addiction,or old age.
D) all of the above.

Question 19

A biological false-positive reaction is least likely to occur with which syphilis assay?

A) RPR
B) MHA-TP
C) FTA-ABS
D) Both b and c

Question 20

Match the stages of syphilis with the appropriate signs and symptoms.(Use each answer only once. )
Primary syphilis

A)Diagnosis only by serologic methods
B)Presence of gummas
C)Development of a chancre
D)Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in most patients
E)Very early in infection,even before the first lesions

Question 21

Match the tests with the correct method used for each.

RPR test

A)Treponemal method
B)Nontreponemal method

Question 22

Pathogenic treponemes are cultivatable in artificial laboratory media.

Question 23

Match the tests with the correct method used for each.

FTA-ABS test

A)Treponemal method
B)Nontreponemal method

Question 24

Match the tests with the correct method used for each.

MHA-TP test

A)Treponemal method
B)Nontreponemal method

Question 25

Match the stages of syphilis with the appropriate signs and symptoms.(Use each answer only once. )
Late (tertiary)syphilis

A)Diagnosis only by serologic methods
B)Presence of gummas
C)Development of a chancre
D)Generalized illness followed by macular lesions in most patients
E)Very early in infection,even before the first lesions