What is an example of a parasitic bacteria?
Example of parasitic bacteria:
- Yersinia pestis, which causes plague, a deadly disease transmitted by infected fleas. As it enters a host organism, usually through the bite of an infected flea, the bacteria multiplies rapidly and spreads through the lymphatic system and bloodstream, causing symptoms such as fever, chills, weakness, swelling of lymph nodes, and in severe cases, tissue damage, multiple organ failure and even death.
- Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes tuberculosis (TB), a contagious infection that primarily affects the lungs. Transmitted through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or speaks the bacteria enters the body through inhalation. Once in the lungs, it can enter a dormant, latent stage, or it can begin to multiply and cause active disease. Symptoms of active TB may include prolonged coughing, fever, fatigue, night sweats, and weight loss.
- Salmonella typhimurium, is one of the most well known examples of pathogenic bacteria, and it can cause foodborne illnesses such as gastroenteritis. Often transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food or water, it colonises the intestinal tract, leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and fever.
- Legionella pneumophila is a parasitic bacteria that causes the potentially fatal lung infection, Legionnaires' disease, as well as the milder Pontiac fever. This bacteria is mainly transmitted by inhaling contaminated water droplets, often through cooling systems, showers, misters, or fountains, and can cause symptoms such as high fever, chills, muscle aches, headaches and severe respiratory issues, including pneumonia.
- Borrelia burgdorferi, the causative agent of Lyme disease. Transmitted to humans through the bite of infected ticks, the bacteria enters the skin and can spread through the bloodstream to various organs, leading to a wide range of symptoms, including fever, chills, fatigue, headache, skin rash, joint pain and neurological problems in some cases.