Blood and Tissue Parasites (Part I)

Question 1

List four pathogenic amoebae.

Answer 1

Acanthamoeba spp., Balamuthia mandrillaris, Naegieria flowleri, and Sapphinia diploidea

Question 2

List one pathogenic flagellates.

Answer 2

Trichomonas vaginalis

Question 3

List three pathogenic Apicomplexa.

Answer 3

Babesia spp., Plasmodium spp., and Toxoplasma gondii

Question 4

List two pathogenic trypanosomatids

Answer 4

Leishmania spp, and Trypanosoma spp.

Question 5

Which species are known as “thorny or spiny amoeba”

Answer 5

Acanthamoeba species

Question 6

Free living (out in nature)_____, many species cause human disease.

Answer 6

Amoebae; Acanthamoeba species

Question 7

Acanthamoeba species: Incidence of ______

Answer 7

acanthamoebiasis

Question 8

Acanthamoeba species is infection of what?

Answer 8

Cornea (keratitis)

Question 9

Acanthamobea Species: Epidemiology and transmission

Answer 9

Variety of environmental habitats: “Contact lens cases” (soil, fresh, brackish, and sea water, sewage, swimming and medicinal pools; plants; human throats, nostrils) Enter through inhalation, the eye, or ulcerated/broken skin

Question 10

Acanthamobea Species: Infectious form and found in tissue

Answer 10

Both cysts and trophs

Question 11

List two most common infections of Acanthamoeba species.

Answer 11

Eye tissue-keratitis

Brain tissue- granulomatis amoebic encephalitis (GAE)

Question 12

In Encephalitis (GAE), most cases have been found in what kind of people?

Answer 12

Immunocompromised people

Question 13

In Encephalitis (GAE), ______ enter through breaks in skin or upper respiratory tract, migrate to CNS, causes neuronal damage and death.

Answer 13

Trophs

Question 14

Describe two types of diagnosis of Acanthamoeba species through microscope from tissue (such as eye,brain, lesion material).

Answer 14

Characteristic of Cysts- double walled in tissue

Characterstic of Troph- with bull’s eye nucleus

Question 15

Acanthamobea Species: geographic distribution.

Answer 15

Worldwide

Question 16

Balamuthia mandrillaris is _____ amoeba

Answer 16

Free living but not much is known about its habitat

Question 17

Balamuthia mandrillaris: Geographic distrbution

Answer 17

Temperate regions of globe

Question 18

Balamuthia mandrillaris: Cause of____

Answer 18

GAE

Question 19

Balamuthia mandrillaris: incidence of_____

Answer 19

balamuthiasis

Question 20

Balamuthia mandrillaris: Transmission through___

Answer 20

Enter through skin wounds or inhaling DUST.

Question 21

Balamuthia mandrillaris: infectious forms and found in tissue

Answer 21

Both cyst and trophs forms and found in tissue- just like Acanthamobea

Question 22

What type of people are at risk for Balamuthia mandrillaris GAE?

Answer 22

Cases in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent people

Question 23

Balamuthia mandrillaris: Diagnosis

Answer 23

Characteristic of Cysts- double walled in tissue;Troph- with bull’s eye nucleus

Question 24

How can we distinguish Balamuthia mandrillaris from Acanthamoba since they have identical diagnosis.

Answer 24

Distinguish using PCR and immunofluorescence (IFA)

Question 25

Where would you find Neagleria flowleri amoeba?

Answer 25

Free-living amoeba; They prefer warm water so lakes, ponds, swimming pools, air conditioner cooling towers, tap water, etc.

Question 26

Neagleria flowleri: Geographic distribution

Answer 26

presumably worldwide

Question 27

Neagleria flowleri: causes____-

Answer 27

Primary amoebic meningoenecephalitis (PAM)

Question 28

Neagleria flowleri: Infectious form

Answer 28

Troph

Question 29

Neagleria flowleri: Diagnosis through microscope

Answer 29

Characteristic trophs in brain and CSF: NO CYST form in hosts

Question 30

Neagleria flowleri: Symptoms

Answer 30

acute onset of frontal headache, fever, nausea, and vomiting (Phase1); stiff neck, seizures, altered mental status, coma, and death (phase2); from exposure to death 1-12days

Question 31

Which pathogenic flagellates is sexually transmitted protozan?

Answer 31

Trichomonas vaginalis

Question 32

This is most common pathogenic protozoan in industrialized counties

Answer 32

Trichomonas vaginalis

Question 33

Trichomonas vaginalis: Incidence of _____

Answer 33

Trichomoniasis; very common, more prevalent among people with multiple sex partner

Question 34

Trichomonas vaginalis: Epidemiology and transmission

Answer 34

• Reside in lower GU tract of females, urethra and prostate of males
• Sexual intercourse is primary means of transmission

Question 35

Trichomonas vaginalis: Life cycle

Answer 35

Trophozoites are the only known form; it replicates on surfaces of tissue

Question 36

Trichomonas vaginalis: symptoms in males

Answer 36

usually asymptomatic, but can develop urethritis, epididymitis and or prostatitis

Question 37

Trichomonas vaginalis: symptoms in females

Answer 37

Frothy, green yellow, foul smelling vaginal discharge, itching and burning especially during sex, vaginitis, urethritis, and cervicitis (strawberry cervix)

Question 38

Trichomonas vaginalis: Describe diagnosis through molecular tests

Answer 38

• DNA probe- e.g, BD Affrim VPIII microbial ID test

- Nucleic acid amplification test-e.g. Gen-probe APTIMA

Question 39

Trichomonas vaginalis: Describe diagnosis through microscopy

Answer 39

• Demonstrate motile trophs in vaginal secretion or urine

- Demonstrate trophs in stained smears