Arthropodborne Parasitic Flashcards
1
Q
CA - malaria
A
Genus Plasmodium
- kingdom Protista, subkingdom Protozoa, protozoan parasites
2
Q
Four species cause Malaria
A
- Plasmodium Vivax - mild & most common
- Plasmodium ovale - endemic
- Plasmodium malariae - endemic
- Plasmodium falciparum - most deadly; severe anemia & encephalitis
3
Q
Plasmodium found in:
A
- RBC’s
- Liver cells
4
Q
VF - malaria
A
- Complex lifecycle of Plasmodium pathogen involving 2 hosts
- long & slow blood cycle
- frequent gene mutations —> high drug resistance
- human is the only relevant reservoir
5
Q
Arthropod vector - malaria
A
Mosquito
6
Q
Transmission - malaria
A
Pathogen in human —> spread to mosquito —> a different human becomes diseased
7
Q
Sxs - malaria
A
- typical sxs
- due to plasmodium infecting and destroying RBC
- intermittent fever with spiking every 48 or 72 hours, chills, sweating, fatigue, weakness, anemia
8
Q
Diagnosis - malaria
A
RBCs with typical “ring form” of plasmodium (merozoites)
9
Q
Predisposing factors - malaria
A
Tropical climates, stagnant water where mosquitos deposit egg
10
Q
Prevention - malaria
A
Vector control (mosquito), mosquito repellant, mosquito nets, cleaning stagnant water
- no vaccines
11
Q
Treatment - malaria
A
Anti parasitic / anti malarial drugs
- chloroquine [limitations due to high drug resistance]
- artemisinin derivatives [Chinese herb]
12
Q
Misc - malaria
A
- one of the top 3 deadliest infectious diseases worldwide
