Clinically Important Fungi and Protozoa

Question 1

Dermatophytes

Answer 1

Fungi that invade keratinized tissue; Leads to dermatomycoses

Question 2

Ringworm

Answer 2

Caused by Tinea corporis, Tinea curis, Tinea capitis, Tinea unguium, and Tinea pedis. Individual comes in contact with the organism from unclean environments. T. Pedis can cause a secondary bacterial infection

Question 3

Blastomycosis

Answer 3

Caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis. A deeper skin lesion that normaly enters through a wound or lungs. Can cause systemic blastomycosis as a complication

Question 4

Candidiasis

Answer 4

Opportunistic fungal infection caused by Candida albicans. Can cause thrush, vaginitis, nfect tissues, and is the most common nosocomial fungal infection

Question 5

Trichomoniasis

Answer 5

caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis, transmitted sexually. Infects the urogenital tract surfaces in both males and females.

Question 6

Coccidoidomycosis

Answer 6

Caused by Coccidioides immitis. Spores are inhaled and results in flu like symptoms. Highly infectious

Question 7

Hstoplasmosis

Answer 7

Caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. Soil fungal spores are inhaled which can survive within macrophages. Spores are circulated around the body and can cause pneumonia and infection in spleen, liver, and lymph nodes

Question 8

Cryptococcosis

Answer 8

caused by budding yeast Filobasidiella neoformans. Carried by birds and can be inhaled or carried in through the mouth. Causes respiratory infection

Question 9

Pneumocystis pneumonia

Answer 9

caused by Pneumocystis jirvoeci. Invads the lung cells

Question 10

Asperigillosis

Answer 10

caused by Aspergillus fumigatus. infects the lungs once spores are inhaled. Can turn into an invasive lung infection

Question 11

Fungal infections that cause complications with AIDS

Answer 11

Cryptococcosis, Pneumocystis pneumonia, Asperigillosis

Question 12

Giardiasis

Answer 12

Caused by giardia intestinalis. Cysts of the organism are ingested and go to the small intestine where they mature into trophozoites and adhere to the bowel wall. Causes sever diarrhea with dehydration, cna interrupt normal adsorption

Question 13

Amebiasis

Answer 13

Caused by Entamoeba histolytica. Amoebic dysenery. Cysts ingested and mature into trophozoites in the colon. Invade the intestinal mucosa and get into bloodstream. Intestinal lining damage can cause fecal material to get into the body cavity and cause peritonitis.

Question 14

Balantidiasis

Answer 14

Caused by Balantidium coli. Cysts ingested and mature into trophozoites. The organisms invade the large intestine and casue peritonisis

Question 15

Cryptosporidiosis

Answer 15

Caused by Cryptosporidium. Source usually contaminated water but can be fecal material from kittens and puppies. Cysts are ingested and mature into protozoa causing an infection.

Question 16

Leishmaniasis

Answer 16

Caused by Leishmania donovani. Transmitted by sand fly bites and enters the bloodstream. Macrophages ingesst it but the organism survives and multiplies within. Causes extensive damage to the immune system and if left untreated causes death

Question 17

Malaria

Answer 17

protozoan disease that is caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Enters the blood stream through mosquito bites infected with the organism. The organism matures in stages and ultimately infects a RBC.

Question 18

Stages of Malaria

Answer 18

Sporozoite Stage
Merozoite Stage
Trophozoite Stage

Question 19

Sporozoite Stage

Answer 19

Infected female mosquito carries this stage of the protozoa

Question 20

Merozoite Stage

Answer 20

The protozoan enters the human blood stream and travels to the liver. Here it turns into the Merozoite Stage

Question 21

Trophozoite Stage

Answer 21

The protozoa invades the RBC where they multiply. This is the Trophozoite Stage