Clinical Parasitology 1 - Roundworms and Flatworms Flashcards
What is the life cycle of ascaris lumbricoides, starting with an egg?
- Egg is consumed, usually in contaminated food.
- Larvae emerge when eggs reach the small intestine.
- Larvae penetrate through the intestinal wall and traveling in the bloodstream to the lungs.
- Grow in alveoli and are coughed up and swallowed; larvae again reach the small intestine and mature into adults.
- Adults release eggs, which are excreted with the feces
- in severe invasion, may invade bile ducts, gall bladder, appendix, and liver
Which three intestinal nematodes (roundworms) are inquired by the ingestion of eggs?
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Trichuris triciura (whipworm)
- Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)
What are three signs seen with ascariasis?
- Pneumonitis (cough, pulmonary infiltrate on CXR)
- Abdominal cramping
- Intestinal obstruction (occasional perforation)
What three drugs can be used to treat Ascaris lumbricoides?
- Mebendazole*
- Pyrantel pamoate*
- Albendazole
- ones given in the clinical lecture; piperazine is an alternative
What makes the Dx of ascariasis (ascaris lumbricoides) definitive?
Eggs in stool–> make dx definitive
What finding in the blood test makes a parasite infection likely?
High eosinophil count (in ascariasis can be high in the sputum as well)
What is the life cycle of Trichuris trichuiria (whipworm) starting with the egg?
- Egg is ingested (via contaminated food) and hatch in intestine
- Mature in the cecum and ascending large intestine
- Mature adult produces eggs there
- no filariform larvae stage, no tissue invasion, and no lung involvement
What two symptoms may be seen in trichuris trichiura (whipworm) infection?
- Abdominal pain
- Diarrhea
- may appear like chronic blood loss or IBD
What makes the diagnosis of trichuris trichiura?
Visualization of eggs in the feces–> look like footballs with bumps on each end
What blood finding is seen in trichuris trichiura?
None–> eosinophilia is not present, since it doesn’t invade tissues
What is unique about the the egg excreted in the feces of a person infected by trichuris trichuria (whipworm)?
Must grow in moist soil for 3-6 weeks before infective, so cannot infect self
What are the two drugs of choice to tx trichuris trichiura (whipworm)?
- Albendazole
- Mebendazole
- pyrantel pamoate is an alternative
What is the life cycle of Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm), beginning with an egg?
- Eggs are ingested,
- Pinworms mature in the cecum and ascending large intestine,
- Female migrates to perianal area (usually at night) to lay eggs, which become infectious 4-6 hours later
- infected individual will scratch! then reinfect self via hand-to-mouth
What are the symptoms of Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection? What is the definitive test?
- Usually just an itchy ass (g.i. problems are rare)
* Sticky-tape test–> finds adults or eggs in perianal region
What is seen on the blood test in Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection?
NO eosinophilia–> worms don’t penetrate the tissues
- Enterobius vermicularis is the most common helminth (worms) infection in the U.S.
What is treatment for Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) infection? (2 choices)
- Mebendazole
- Pyrantel pamoate (2 doses, 2 weeks apart)
- Albendazole is an alternative
What is the life cycle of Necator americanus (hookworm), beginning with it getting into the host?
- Larval form lives in the soil and transforms into filariform larva after 1 week
- Filariform larva can penetrate the skin
- Travel to lung/alveoli, where they are coughed up and swallowed
- Adult worms develop as they arrive at the small intestine, where they attach and suck blood; here they reproduce and release fertilized eggs
What 4 places is Necator americanus (hookworm) found?
- New world Americas
- Africa
- Southern Asia
- Australia
What is the distribution of Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm)? (2 places)
Mediterranean and northern Asia
Which two intestinal nematodes (flatworms) are acquired when their larvae penetrate through the skin?
- Necator americanus (hookworm)
- Strongyliodes stercoralis (threadworms)
- also Ancylostoma duodenale (it is same as hookworm, but has a different worldwide distribution)
Where do Necator americanus (hookworm) travel after the filarifirm larvae penetrate the skin?
Directly to the alveoli, where they grow and are coughed up and swallowed.
When are Necator americanus fully mature (where in body)?
Are fully mature by the time they reach the small intestines after getting coughed up and swallowed.
What three symptoms does hookworm (Necator) infection cause?
- diarrhea
- abdominal pain
- weight loss
What do the hookworms do once in the intestine and what sign may this cause?
Attach to the intestinal wall and suck blood–> may lead to an iron-deficiency anemia
What three signs/ symptoms might lung infection due to hookworm cause?
- cough
- infiltrate on CXR
- eosinophilia
* pnemonitis
What may seen as a result of hookworm invasion through skin?
itching and rash at the site of penetration (usually between the toes)
What confirms Necator americanus (hookworm) infection?
Eggs in stool
What is DOC for Necator (hookworm) infection?
Mebendazole
*Pyrantel pamoate or albendazole may be used as well
What is the common name for Strongyloides stercoralis infection?
Threadworm
How does Strongylides stercoralis infect the host? Which stage in life cycle infects?
Via penetration of the skin by filariform larvae
What organism is Strongyloides stercoralis’ life cycle extremely similar to?
Necator americanus–> the filariform larvae penetrate the skin, travel to the lung then are coughed up and swallowed; mature into adults by the time they reach the small intestines where they lay eggs
What happens in the cycle of autoinfection in Strongyloides stercoralis?
Filariform larvae penetrate the intestine directly without leaving and go to the lung to continue the cycle.
What happens in the direct cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis life cycle?
Filariform larvae pass out in the feces, survive in the soil, penetrate the next passerby, and migrate to the lungs–> almost exactly same as N. americanus
What is the indirect life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis?
Filariform larvae are passed out in the stool, mature in the soil, lay eggs which mature into infective filariform larvae.
What 5 symptoms are seen in Strongyloides stercoralis infection?
- vomiting
- abdominal bloating
- diarrhea
- iron-deficiency anemia
- weight loss