Neisseria gonorrhoeae Essay -- Essays Papers

Neisseria gonorrhoeae Introduction Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the obligate human pathogen that causes the sexually transmitted disease (STD) gonorrhea. This Gram-negative diplococci/gonococci does not infect other animals or experimental animals and does not survive freely in the environment. The gonococcal infection occurs in the upper or lower tract, pharynx, ophthalmic area, rectum, and bloodstream. During the 1980’s gonorrhea was also referred to as â€Å"the clap† when public awareness was quite minimal. This was one of the venereal diseases prostitutes hoped to contract since it resulted in infertility by pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). As documentation, diagnostic testing, and public awareness improved, there has been a decline in incidence reports, however, it is still considered a very common infectious disease. Encounter Sexually active men and women of all races, ages, and socioeconomic backgrounds are susceptible to the gonococcal infection. However, out of the infected population, the CDC states 80% of the females and 10% of the males are asymptomatic. After incubation of five to seven days, males tend to display symptoms of swelling in the urethra, painful and more frequent urination, and abnormal penal discharge of a thick yellow exudate (pus). Similarly, females experience chronic abdominal pain, inflammation of the cervix, painful urination, bleeding or irregular menstrual cycles, fever and increased vaginal yellow discharge. Females have a higher risk factor of 60-90% of being infected after a single sexual encounter. Both sexes experience sore throat in oral infections if they are not asymptomatic. However, this response is most commonly mistaken as a viral sore throat. Entry Neisseria gonorrhoe... ...584.doi: 10.1046/j.1462-5822.2002.t01-1- 00215.x Park, Hae-Sun Moon, Wolfgang, Matthew, van Putten, Jos P. M., Dorward, David, Hayes, Stanley F. & Koomey, Michael. Structural alterations in a type IV pilus subunit protein result in concurrent defects in multicellular behaviour and adherence to host tissue. Molecular Microbiology 42 (2), 293-307.doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2001.02629.x Soper, David E, Disseminated gonococcal infection. (Protocols). Contemporary OB/GYN. June 2002 v47 i6 p135(4) Bradbury, Jane. Neisseria gonorrhoeae evades host immunity by switching off T lymphocytes. The Lancet. Feb 23, 2002 v359 i9307 p681. Senior, B.W., Steward, W., Galloway, C., Kerr, M. Cleavage of the Hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, by the Type 1 IgA1 Protease of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Its Implications. Journal of Infectious Diseases. Oct. 1, 2001 v184 i7 p9022.