Flagellates Flashcards
T/F: Balantidium colo is a flagellate
False. It is a ciliate.
T/F: Most intestinal parasites are transmitted via feco-oral oral except for T. vaginalis.
True.
Mode of transmission of T. vaginalis.
Sexual contact
Other names for Giardia lamblia
Giardia duodenalis
Giardia intesinalis
Diagnostic stage of Giardia lamblia.
Trophozoite and cysts in feces
Infective stage of Giardia lamblia
Cysts –> resistant forms
Mode of transmission of Giardia lamblia
Ingestion of cysts from contaminated water, food
Fecal-oral route
Hands or Fomites
T/F: Human to human transmission of Giardiasis is impossible
False. It is possible.
Cysts of Giardia lamblia is found in what type of stool?
Non-diarrheal/formed
Where does excystation of Giardia lamblia occur?
In duodenum
T/F: Giardiasis is localized to small intestine only therefore do not enter the bloodstreeam.
True
T/F: The cyst of Giardiasis causes inflammation of duodenal mucosa
False. It is the trophozoite since the cysts excyst and produce 2 trophozoites which attaches themselves in gut wall using ventral sucker.
What macromolecule is not absorbed normally in Giardiasis?
Fat and proteins
T/F: Chlorination kills Giardia lamblia.
False. Filtration will remove them.
Immunoglobulin deficiency that predisposes patient to have symptomatic infection.
IgA deficiency.
String (Enterotest) is used to diagnose what flagellate
Giardia lamblia
Drug of choice for most flagellates is
Metronidazole.
However, tinidazole is better tolerated
In string (enterotest), what life cycle stage attaches to the string?
Trophozoites
Trophozoite and cyst description of G. lamblia
Trophozoite - binucleate , 4 pairs of flagella, suction disk
Cyst - quadrinucleate, oval in shape,
Flagellates which exists only on trophozoite form
Trichomonas vaginalis
T/F: In trichomoniasis, treatment of only the infected person is crucial for those with partners.
False. Treatment of both is essential.
T/F: Maintenance of high pH vaginal is essential for treatment of Trichomoniasis
False. Maintenance of LOW vaginal pH
Historically, only trophozoites are found in this intestinal parasite
Dientamoeba fragilis
T/F: Dientamoeba fragilis have external flagella
False. Only internal flagella.
Diagnostic stage of Dientamoeba fragilis
Trophozoites in feces
Infective stage of Dientamoeba fragilis
Direct fecal-oral route, with possibility of involvement of pre-cyst and cyst stages
Where is the trophozoite of Dientamoeba fragilis found?
In lumen of large intestine
Treatment of choice for Dientamoeba fragiis
Metronidazole for 5-10 days course
Unlike other parasites, what can be seen in CBC of Dientamoeba fragilis?
Peripheral eosinophilia, hence may mask as allergic colitis
What should be used to preserve stool specimen of Dientamoeba?
Polyvinyl alcohol
Chilomastix mesnili resides in?
Cecum and/or colon
Where does excystation of Chilomastix spp occur?
In large intestine where it sheds trophozoites
T/F: Chilomastix mesnili is a commensal pathogen
True.
T/F: Chilomastix mesnili is considered a cosmopolitan species.
True. It is found in brackish, fresh, and marine waters.
Diagnostic stage of Chilomastix mesnili
Both trophozoite and cysts
Infective stage of Chilomastix mesnili
Cysts
Mode of transmission of Chilomastix mesnili
Feco-oral route
T/F: Chilomastix mesnili’s trophozoite is non-feeding
False. Feeding via endocytosis.
T/F: Chilomastix mesnili’s cyst is non-feeding
True
T/F: Trophozoite of chilomastix mesnili has 4 flagella
True. 3 anterior flagella, 1 more posterior flagella that acts as a mouth with feeding groove
T/F: Cyst of Chilomastix mesnili has 4 flagella
False. Only the vaned flagella (4th) exist in Chilomastix mesnili. The 3 anteriors are not found hence it is non-motile.
T/F: Cysts of Chilomastix mesnili is motile.
False. Since the anterior flagellas are not found in cysts, Chilomastix mesnili cyst is non-motile.
