Acanthocephalan Parasites (33) Flashcards
What are the thorny-headed worms?
acanthocephala
Where do acanthocephala worms live? Which stage?
adult worms in digestive tract of vertebrate hosts - mammals, fish, birds, reptiles
What is the morphology of acanthocephala?
pseudocoelomate
dioecious
male/female repro system
no digestive system
hooked proboscis and flattened appearance in situ bears superficial resemblance to tapeworms
distinctive eggs
What do acanthocephala superficially resemble?
tapeworms
What does musculature of acanthocephala in the anterior end aid in doing?
manage hydraulic control of proboscis
What does musculature of acanthocephala in the middle body aid in doing?
nutrient and waste transport in absence of a digestive/excretory system
What is the lifecycle of acanthocephalan parasites?
obligate indirect lifecycle
Who is the intermediate host for acanthocephalan?
arthropod
What is macroacanthorhynchus hirudinaceus?
once an important parasite in swine production
often mistaken for taenia solium
What is oncicola canis?
parasitic in the small intestine
more common in wildlife species
Who facilitates transmission of oncicola canis? What do they have?
lizards, birds, small mammals
infected with cystacanth stage
What is prosthenorchis elegans?
enzootic in South and Central American primate populations
important in zoological and laboratory primate colonies
Who is the IH for prosthenorchis elegans?
cockroaches
What is the clinical significance of prosthenorchis elegans?
trauma in definitive host caused by penetration of proboscis
- attach, release, re-attachment associated with significant pain, trauma to intestinal mucosa
- gut perforation and peritonitis
A primate experiencing trauma caused by penetration of the proboscis of a parasite was examined. It also has gut perforation and peritonitis. What parasite likely caused this?
prosthenorchis elegans
A fecal examination revealed these eggs. How did the host become infected?
close proximity to IH - cockroaches
(this parasite is prosthenorchis elegans)
What is the morphology of prosthenorchis elegans?
oval-shaped, layered with hooked “acanthor”
What is treatment and control for prosthenorchis elegans?
T/F: Swine have adult tapeworms in their small intestines
FALSE - randomly on this review
