Scarlet Fever
Scarlet Fever:
Streptococcus pyogenes- gm(+)
Symptoms of scarlet fever: red rash on trunk, "strawberry tongue", sore throat, fever
-was known to be fatal
Agressive quarantine measures were taken, which caused a change in the evolution
of S. pyogenes causing it to lose its virulence factors
-today people most often get "strep throat"
*Ewald's Hypothesis:
-over time, pathogens evolve towards reduced virulence in reservoir/host
-over time, pathogens become necessary normal flora
page revision: 0, last edited: 07 Dec 2009 20:43