Final Exam questions

Question 1

A heavy infection of ascaris creates some unique problems for treatment. What are the dangers to the host and what are the challenges with treatment.

Answer 1

• block passage of material in intestine
• Resistant cuticle and secretions prevent digestion by enzymes (hydrolases, proteases)
• heavy infection caused enlarged liver, pneumonia symptoms
• malnourishment, cognitive impairment in children, abdominal pain
• worms may “knot” and fully block intestine
• high fevers may cause adults to migrate, causing tissue damage
• light infection can use albendazole to kill worms but they may wander
• heavy infection may be treated by taking drugs to immobilize worms to be passed in feces or through surgery
• too many worms can cause “wandering worms” and migrate upstream or downstream causing lots of tissue damage and phycological trauma (upstream)

Question 2

A zoonotic vector-borne filarial worm becomes widespread and is declared a global pandemic. What information do we need to know to guide public protective measures?

Question 3

Are cestodes only transmitted by trophic transmission? Explain.

Question 4

Argue for the importance of “old” skills like diagnostic microscopy in the context of parasitology.

Question 5

Can an individual be infected with both juvenile AND adult stages of a parasite? Explain.

Question 6

Can parasites change their habitats? Describe.

Question 7

Compare and contrast the life within the human lung for schistosomes and ascaris nematodes.

Question 8

Contrast the full lifecycle of Schistosoma spp. With that of the generalized digenean fluke life cycle.

Answer 8

unit 9

Question 9

contrast the general differences we are seeing between cestodes and nematodes

Question 10

Contrast the generalized digenean life cycle with the following species…

Question 11

Contrast the impacts to pet and human health of Dipylidium caninum and Toxocara canis

Question 12

Contrast the strategies used by … to evade destruction by a phagocyte.

Question 13

Contrast the two major species of human hookworm and their differences. How are they relevant historically and in modern day?

Question 14

Describe control practices for limiting the spread of Schistosomiasis to humans. What are some difficulties in controlling these parasites? Comment on the importance of killing intermediate hosts, reservoir hosts, and meat refrigeration in controlling these parasites.

Answer 14

week 9

Question 15

Describe how drug treatment of filarial nematodes are complicated by co-infections.

Question 16

Describe how island nations (Japan, Cyprus) have experienced success controlling parasites.

Answer 16

lesson 9, 10

Question 17

Describe how the following statements can both be true. 1)Parasites evolve to NOT kill their host (prolong infection). 2) Many full blown parasite infections can be fatal.

Question 18

Describe how toxins, viruses, and teratocytes play a role in the life cycle of parasitoid wasps.

Question 19

Describe periodicity, or diurnal migration, in relation to pinworm, and filarial worms.

Question 20

Describe some morphological traits and behaviours that make bed bugs such effective temporary parasites

Question 21

Describe some notable cestodes relevant to Canadians.

Question 22

Describe specific control practices for [specific biting flies].

Question 23

Describe the danger of beef and pork tapeworm to a human.

Question 24

Describe the importance of emerging reservoir hosts in the eradication of Guinea worm.

Question 25

Describe the importance of lung phases in [species] …

Question 26

Describe the importance of lung phases to. [species] …

Question 27

Describe the role of [ ] in the life cycle of a parasite. [rostellum and hooks, hydatid cyst, pleurocercoid, coracidium]

Question 28

Describe the various habitats a schistosome must survive in a human. What are the difference by species?

Question 29

Differentiate between direct and indirect life cycles in nematodes.

Question 30

Differentiate between the adult trematodes and cestodes.

Question 31

Differentiate between the larval stages of trematodes and cestodes.

Question 32

Dirofilaria immitis, Wucheraria bancrofti, and Loa loa are all filarial nematodes. Contrast the life cycles, diseases, and transmission of these three worms.

Question 33

Discuss the comment that “all nematodes basically have the same life cycle”.

Question 34

Echinococcis species have been increasing in prevalence in Southern Ontario. Suppose rates greatly increased and pet populations were severely affected. What public health measures would you put in place, and what would be critical for the public to know to limit transmission?

Question 35

Echinococcus species can be most notable because of their chronic effects of larval stages in their hosts. Describe both human and sylvatic examples.

Question 36

How do parasites impact their local environment?

Question 37

How do the three major types of raw fish helminths compare in terms of their symptoms? (how might we tell an infection with each apart)

Question 38

How might geohelminth control change if a phoretic fly became competent transport vectors of transited phases.

Question 39

If Dirofilaria immitis were to suddenly become adept at infecting humans, what control measures would you suggest?

Question 40

In term of parasite disease, what are some risk factors when travelling to… [ parts of the world, parts of Canada, rural areas in X…]

Question 41

Is Strongyloides stercoralis an obligate parasite, even though it survives and can carry out sexual replication in soil? Discuss why/why not.

Question 42

P. westermani and C. sinensis occur in similar places. How might you determine which species a person that may have contracted one of these parasites, is infected with?

Question 43

Schistocephalus solidus in stickleback changes host behaviour. Describe how this parasite affects host behaviour and how it increases chances of transmission.

Question 44

Should we bother learning life cycles in BIOL 414 since they are all on google anyway? Provide an argument, for or against, learning life cycles. Support your opinion with examples from the course or your own reflections on your undergraduate degree.

Question 45

What are some practices that might be implemented in Canada to protect against pinworm?

Question 46

What are some practices that might be implemented in Canada to protect against pinworm? Describe your choices by referring to the biology of the organism.

Question 47

What are the potential health impacts of [species]? What are the dangers to wildlife, or potential economic impacts?

Question 48

What is sparganosis?

Question 49

What is the antibody-dependent cell-mediated response to some macroparasites? Why is it less important for microparasites?

Question 50

What parasite diseases may be carried by the various human lice and fleas. What controls could be suggested to prevent the spread of these insects in a school/shelter setting?

Question 51

What public health challenges would arise if dog heartworm became established in humans?

Question 52

Where, in Canada, are you most likely to encounter each of these? What conditions would put you at risk?

Question 53

Why are eosinophils an indicator of a worm infection? What role do they play?

Question 54

Why are reservoir hosts and emerging problem in the battle again Guinea worm?

Question 55

Why are Trypanosomes so resilient to the adaptive immune response?

Question 56

Why is proper clothing an important element of parasite public health planning, and describe which types of parasites could be protected against.

Question 57

Why is the DALY an important metric to understanding helminth diseases of humans.

Answer 57

lesson 11

Question 58

Why is the proliferation of outhouses in the southern United States in the early 1900’s, an important parasitology story? What was the result of this development? How did parasite biology affect outhouse design?

Question 59

You are at a Southern Ontario Provincial Park fish fry and you notice the fish is undercooked. Is there a threat of contracting a worm parasite? Describe what parasite (if any) you suspect, and what symptoms you would need to be mindful of.

Question 60

You are hired by a public health unit in London England to create information packages for new parents (particularly mothers) immigrating to the metropolitan area from around the world. These materials are to be prepared for as broad a use as possible to be useable for any parents that may be raising a family in the greater London area. What sorts of advice would you include in your document? Which specific parasites might you be concerned with in your materials to new mothers?

Question 61

You are walking through Ontario Seed Company (it’s at the back of the Home Hardware on King st.), and you overhear a canola farmer asking about biological controls for nematodes. They are looking to buy marigold. What symptoms might they be looking for in their plants and what advice could you provide based on what we have learned this term?

Question 62

You’re visiting an aunt in the Southern US where a large-scale hunt of pest wild boar is occuring. You agree to help with the preparing of meat for a community barbeque. What risks of parasites do you and the other volunteers and attendees face?

Question 63

Your roommate is travelling to sub-Saharan Africa. What types of precautions should they take to avoid becoming infected with a parasite. Use concrete examples from this course.