Prion Diseases Human prion diseases: kuru, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), variant CJD, Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), familial fatal insomnia (FFI). All progressive, fatal. May be sporadic, infectious, or inherited. Human prion protein…
Reye Syndrome Childhood encephalopathy with fatty changes in viscera. Rarely affects infants or adults. Epidemiology: linked to ingestion of aspirin-containing compounds to treat childhood fever. Usually associated with influenza A,…
Bacterial Toxins Diphtheria Diphtheria exotoxin binds to receptors on peripheral nerves, inhibits protein synthesis. Demyelinating neuropathy more likely with severe infection. Palatal and pharyngo-laryngo-esophageal paralysis early; prominent signs in pharyngeal…
Parasitic Infections Major public health problem in tropical and less developed countries. Predisposing factors: poor living conditions; appropriate climate for vectors to facilitate transmission; immunosuppression. Diseases caused by worms (helminths),…
Spirochete Infections: Lyme Disease Epidemiology Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete transmitted to humans by ixodid ticks (which in the United States infest deer, mice). Usually in wooded areas of United States; peak…
Spirochete Infections: Leptospirosis Epidemiology: hosts include humans, wild animals, domestic animals (cats, dogs, cattle). Humans infected via exposure to infested animal tissue or urine, or contaminated ground water, soil, vegetation….
Spirochete Infections: Neurosyphilis Definition Infection of brain, meninges, or spinal cord by Treponema pallidum. Required: (a) syndrome consistent with neurosyphilis (meningitis, meningoencephalitis, meningomyelitis, cerebral infarcts, dementia paralytica, tabes dorsalis, congenital…
Neurosarcoidosis Granulomatous multisystem disease of unknown cause, sometimes involving CNS, peripheral nerves, or muscle. Epidemiology Prevalence 3–50 per 100,000 population worldwide. More frequent in African Americans than others in United…
Fungal and Yeast Infections CNS fungal infection: meningitis, meningoencephalitis, abscess, granuloma, arterial thrombosis. Subacute meningitis, meningoencephalitis most common. Lungs, skin, hair usually primary sites. Pathogenic fungal infections (occur in normal…
