Bacterial Diseases- Salmonella and Gonorrhoea
Laura Armstrong & Joe Wolfensohn
Teachers
Recall Questions
This topic requires prior knowledge of the structure of bacterial cells and how pathogens cause disease.
What is a pathogen?
A microorganism that causes disease.
State one difference between a bacterial cell and an animal cell.
Bacterial cells do not have a nucleus; their DNA is free in the cytoplasm.
Or,
Bacterial cells do not have mitochondria, animal cells do.
How can pathogens be spread?
By air (droplet infection), direct contact, or contaminated food / water.
Topic Explainer Video
Check out this @JoeDoesBiology video that explains bacterial diseases- salmonella and gonorrhoea, then read the study notes. Once you’ve gone through them, don’t forget to try the practice questions!
Bacterial Diseases: Salmonella and Gonorrhoea
These are the 2 types of bacterial disease that you need to know about...
|
Name of disease |
Salmonella |
Gonorrhoea |
|
Type of Pathogen |
Bacterium |
Bacterium |
|
Spread By |
Eating contaminated or infected food or food prepared in unhygienic conditions. |
Sexual contact. |
|
Symptoms |
- Fever - Abdominal cramps - Vomiting - Diarrhoea |
- Yellow / green discharge from penis or vagina. - Pain when urinating. |
|
Cause of Symptoms |
Toxins secreted by bacteria. |
Toxins secreted by bacteria. |
|
Treatment |
Antibiotics |
Antibiotics (however strains are becoming antibiotic resistant making treatment harder). |
|
Prevention / Control |
Hygienic food preparation - wash hands with soap before preparing food. Clean food preparation surfaces with an antibacterial spray. Wash hands with soap after using the toilet. Isolation when infected. Chickens are vaccinated in the UK, to prevent contamination. |
Use of barrier contraception (e.g. condoms) to reduce the spread. |
Key Terms
- Pathogen – a microorganism that causes disease.
- Toxin – a harmful substance produced by bacteria.
- Antibiotic resistance – when bacteria are no longer killed by a specific antibiotic.
No answer provided.
Exam Tips
- Don’t just say ‘it makes you ill’ - explain that Salmonella bacteria release toxins.
- Don’t just say ‘wash hands’ - make sure to say ‘wash hands before preparing food and after using the toilet’.
No answer provided.
Practice Question
Explain how the spread of gonorrhoea can be controlled. (2 marks)
Model Answer:
- Use of barrier contraception such as condoms.
- Early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics.
More Practice
Try to answer the practice question from the TikTok video on your own, then watch the video to see how well you did!