Fundamentals of Microbiology

5.3.4 Bacterial Human Diseases

1. Diseases of the respiratory systems:

1. Pharyngitis or sore throat is caused by Staphylococcus auraus and Streptococcus pyogenes that are spread by aerosols containing respiratory secretions.

2. Pneumonia (inflammation of lungs) Streptococcus pneumonia

3. Diphtheria – Corynebacterium diphtheria

4. Tuberculosis – Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract:

1. Staphylococcal food poisoning – caused by enteretoxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus

2. Salmonellosis – gastroenteritis caused by different species of Salmonella

3. Shigellosis or bacterial dysentery caused by Shigella sp.

4. Traverler’s diarrhea – caused by enterotoxins producing E. coli.

5. Several other bacteria such as Vibrio cholerae, V. parahaemolytious, Yersinia enterocolitica etc., are also involved in gastroenteritis.

3. Diseases of Central Nervous System

A. Meningitis - Neisseria meningitis, Haemophilus influenza

B. Tetanus - Clostridium tetani

C. Botulism - Clostridium botulinum

4. Diseases of the cardiovascular and lymphatic system:

1. Septicemia or blood poisoning E. coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp. etc.,

2. Typhoid fever – Salmonella typhi

3. Plague – Yersinia pestis

5. Diseases of the Urino-genital tract

1. Urethritis and cystitis – E. coli, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Proteus, Pseudomonas etc.,

2. Leptospirosis – Leptospira interrogans

3. Gonorrhea – Neisseria gonorrhoeae

4. Syphillis – Treponema palladium