Mycobacterium:. Is a rod-shaped, aerobic bacteria that do not form spores

They do not stain readily by conventional stains, once stained by Ziehl Neelsen stain they resist decolorization by acid or alcohol and are therefore called “acid-fast” bacilli (AFB). Examples include Mycobacterium tuberculae, mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium bovis, M. kansasii, M. avium intracellulare

They are slightly curved rod shaped, thin, and filamentous forms are common

Cell wall contains high concentration of lipids – mycolic acids (hence Mycobactirum)

Obligate aerobes

Acid-fast bacilli

They are very sensitive to UV light

Very slow growing (temperature for growth ranges from 35 to 37oC)

They are also called Acid Fast bacilli however they are resistant to acids

The two types of clinical manifestation of tuberculosis (TB) are pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary TB (EPTB). The former is most common. EPTB refers to TB involving organs other than the lungs (e.g., pleura, lymph nodes, abdomen, genitourinary tract, skin, joints and bones, or meninges)

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious, infectious disease that attacks your lungs. Latent TB means you have the germ but you aren’t showing the symptoms and aren’t contagious. You can treat pulmonary TB with antibiotics, but you must finish all your medications to prevent it from returning.

Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) is TB which occurs in any other part of the body outside the lungs. Many people do not realise it but TB can infect almost any place in the body: the inner organs, the bone, the brain, the spine etc.

Spirochaetes: Are thin walled, flexible spiral shaped bacteria. Examples of spirochaetes include Treponema species, Borrelia species

They are thin walled flexible, spiral rods

They are motile

They are flagellated (endoflagella

They are not readily stained by gram stain

They have a lipid rich outer membrane

The spirochaetes cell consists of a protoplasmic cylinder surrounded by plasma membrane and gram-negative type cell wall.

They have axial fibrils, periplasmic flagella or endoflagella located in the periplasm.

The whole complex of periplasmic flagella is called axial filament.

Both the axial filament is surrounded by a multilayered but flexible outer membrane

During the primary stage of syphilis, a sore (chancre) that is usually painless develops at the site where the bacteria entered the body. This commonly occurs within 3 weeks of exposure but can range from 10 to 90 days. A person is highly contagious during the primary stage.

Secondary Syphilis. In this stage, the pathogen spreads through the blood to the skin, liver, joints, lymph nodes, muscles, and brain. A rash frequently appears about 6 weeks to 3 months after the chancre has healed. The rash may cover any part of the body, but tends to erupt on the palms or soles of the feet.

The third stage of syphilis is the latent or hidden stage. The primary and secondary symptoms disappear, and you won’t have any noticeable symptoms at this stage. However, you will still be infected with syphilis

Relapsing fever is a vector-borne disease caused by infection with certain bacteria in the genus Borrelia,[1] which are transmitted through the bites of lice or soft-bodied ticks (genus Ornithodoros

Most people who are infected develop sickness between five and 15 days after they are bitten. The symptoms may include a sudden fever, chills, headaches, muscle or joint aches, and nausea. A rash may also occur. These symptoms usually continue for two to 9 days, then disappear. This cycle may continue for several weeks if the person is not treated