nervous system diseases

causative agent: toxoplasma gondii

mode of transmission: oral route

virulence factors: toxins

symptoms: mostly none in adults, mild-flu, birth defects

treatment: antiparasitic

epidemiology: rates differ by country, concern in pregnant women

culture/diagnosis: blood or amniotic fluid test

prevention: properly preparing and cooking food (care cleaning cat litter box)

causative agent: clostridium tetani

mode of transmission: indirect, contaminated surface or object

virulence factors: tetanospasm exotoxin

symptoms: muscle spasms or stiffness, shortness of breath

treatment: muscle relaxation, antibiotics, antitoxin

epidemiology: low risk in north america, more significant in developing countries

culture/diagnosis: clinical presentation

prevention: toxoid immunization

causative agent: neisseria meningitis

mode of transmission: airborne droplets

virulence factors: capsule, endotoxin

symptoms: high fever, stiff neck, and severe headaches with nausea or vomiting

treatment: antibiotics

epidemiology: sporadic or epidemic in late winter

culture/diagnosis: spinal tap, gram staining, pcr

prevention: vaccination

causative agent: naegleria fowleri

mode of transmission: contaminated water

virulence factors: invasiveness

symptoms: headache, fever, vomiting

treatment: combination of drugs including Amphortericin B

epidemiology: 0-7 cases per year in the us, 97% fatal

culture/diagnosis: microscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid

prevention: refrain from swimming in warm freshwater

causative agent: rabies virus (rabies lyssavirus)

mode of transmission: droplet contact, parenteral (bites)

virulence factors: envelope glycoprotein

symptoms: agitation, disorientation, seizures, and twitching

treatment: rabies vaccine within 10 days of exposure

epidemiology: 1-5 cases per year in the us, more worldwide

culture/diagnosis: direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test

prevention: vaccine, avoid wild animals

causative agent: trypanosoma brucei

mode of transmission: tsetse fly, bite

virulence factors: immune evasion

symptoms: personality and behavioral changes, fatigue, sleep disturbances

treatment: antiprotozoal drugs

epidemiology: 600,000 per year

culture/diagnosis: microscopic examination of blood and cerebrospinal fluid

prevention: vector (tsetse fly) control