flagellates lab Flashcards
subphylum of flagellates
mastigophora
- move using flagella
2 main groups:
1. Phytomastigophorea
These are plant-like protozoans that have chlorophyll, meaning they can make their own food through photosynthesis (like plants).
Example: Some types of algae.
- Zoomastigophora – These are animal-like protozoans, they get nutrients by feeding on other organisms.
Examples:
Giardia – Can cause stomach infections in humans.
Trypanosoma – Causes diseases like sleeping sickness.
general characteristics of a flagella
Whiplike locomotor apparatus (flagella)
Unicellular
Shape and cytoplasmic
characteristics are used for ID
Infective stage = CYST (except for Trichomonas as their infective stage is trophozoite)
Special organs
- Sucking disk
- Axostyle
- Undulating membrane (Withstand the peristaltic action [squeezing and pushing movements] of the intestine)
Most species have a rudimentary mouth known as cytostome (cell mouth)
Function: ingestion. Facilitates the process of phagocytosis where the organism can ingest food particles.
All are commensal (harmless) except
- Giardia Intestinalis
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Dientamoeba fragilis
reproduction of flagellates
All undergo asexual reproduction through binary fission
2 groups of flagella
Intestinal & urogenital
Blood & tissue dwelling (aka “hemoflagellates”)
intestinal flagellates is also called
atrial/ lumen flagellate
structures to identify the
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
- Giardia lamblia cyst
- Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
- Chilomastix mesnili cyst
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
Nuclei with karyosome
Sucking discs
Parabasl body
Flagella
Axostyle
Axoneme - Giardia lamblia cyst
Nuclei
Finely granular cytoplasm
Cyst wall - Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
Spiral groove
Nucleus
Flagella
Achromatic granules
Cytostome - Chilomastix mesnili cyst
Knob-like protuberance [a small, bump-like structure on the cyst]
Cyst wall
Nucleus
where does the giardia lamblia inhabits
visceral organ and non-tissue invader [stays in the intestines but does not damage the intestinal walls.]
aka Giardia intestinalis or Giardia duodenalis.
*Only pathogenic intestinal flagellate - SMALL INTESTINE
shape & (motility for T)
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
- Giardia lamblia cyst
- Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
- Chilomastix mesnili cyst
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Trichomonas tenax
- Trichomonas hominis
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
pear-shaped, teardrop, pyriform
falling leaf/ kite-like motility/ jerky - Giardia lamblia cyst
ovoid, ellipsoid - Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
pear-shaped
stiff, rotary fashion, directional/ cork screw - Trichomonas vaginalis
pyriform shape - Chilomastix mesnili cyst
lemon-shaped/ oval-shaped/ nipple-shaped/ knob-like protuberance at anterior end
fast, jerky (tumbling) - Trichomonas tenax
n/a
-Trichomonas hominis
n/a
(Trichomonas spp, - rounded anterior end and somewhat pointed posterior end)
no. of flagella
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
- Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Trichomonas tenax
- Trichomonas hominis
- Giardia lamblia trophozoite
1 pair at anterior and posterior end
2 pair at central, extending laterally - Chilomastix mesnili trophozoite
3 anterior
1 posterior - Trichomonas vaginalis
Four sub-equal anterior flagella - Trichomonas tenax
4 flagella - Trichomonas hominis
5 anterior flagella
Posterior flagellum projecting from an undulating membrane (full body)
nuclei, karyosome and others
index card
GIARDIA LAMBLIA
- binucleated, the nucleus supported by an axostyle. (a prominent and rigid rod-like structure which functions for support and to maintain its shape)
- 2 axonemes are specialized structures associated with flagella. (kabit sa flagella)
2 median/ parabasal bodies are described as sausage shapes. Usually located posterior to the nuclei and serve as a unique cytoskeleton.
This helps measure the size of the parasite you are looking at under the microscope.
an ocular micrometer, which is a small ruler inside the eyepiece
they are described as sausage shapes. Usually located posterior to the nuclei and serve as a unique cytoskeleton.
2 median/ parabasal bodies
it is a prominent and rigid rod-like structure which functions for support and to maintain its shape.
axostyle
for protective barrier against environmental harsh conditions.
Well defined cyst wall
A soft inner layer inside the cyst that separates the outer wall from the parasite’s internal structures.
Thin layer of granular cytoplasm
life cycle of giardia lamblia
MOT: ingestion of cyst from contaminated food/water
Infective stage: cyst
Diagnostic stage: cyst
Site of inhibition: small intestine
Site of excystation: duodenum [first part of the small intestine]
Site of encystation: large intestine
pathology of giardia lamblia
Giardiasis
Traveler’s/ Hiker’s/ Backpacker’s diarrhea
[people often get it from drinking contaminated water while traveling or hiking.]
- cause inflammation in the intestines = excess mucus production
- lead to malabsorption (poor absorption of nutrients) of fats and carbs STEATORRHEA
epidemiology of giardia lamblia
Most common in warm, moist climates particularly in children.
Associate with poor environmental sanitation.
Risk factors:
- Poor hygiene
- Poor sanitation
- Overcrowding
- Bacterial and fungal overgrowth in the small intestine
- Homosexual man - “gay bowel syndrome”
lab diagnosis of giardia lamblia
Stool examination
Examination of duodenal contents = for trophozoites
- As excystation is happening in the duodenum.
Entero-test/ String test
Small bowel biopsies (patients with negative stool examination)
serological test: ELISA = using Giardial antigen
procedure for the entero-test/ string test
Ask the patient to swallow the gelatin capsule attached to a long string and will be left in place for several hours to allow the capsule to dissolve and the string to pass through into the small intestine.
- Several hours to overnight
- The string will be examined under the microscope, not the gel.
treatment
- giardia lamblia
- chilomastix mesnili
- trichomonas vaginalis
- giardia lamblia
1. Metronidazole
2. Furazolidone - for children under 5 years old - chilomastix mesnili
Not necessary - trichomonas vaginalis
Oral metronidazole (Most effective drug for treatment in both sexes)
Acid douche for women
prevention and control for
- giardia lamblia
- chilomastix mesnili
- trichomonas vaginalis
- giardia lamblia
Proper water treatment
Avoid using human excreta as fertilizer for vegetables
Prevent food contamination from flies and infected food handlers - chilomastix mesnili
proper sanitation
personal hygiene - trichomonas vaginalis
Proper personal hygiene
Avoid promiscuous sexual intercourse
Protective devices such as condoms should be used.
it has a distinct karyosome with a few achromatic fibrils.
Chilomastix mesnili
pathology of Chilomastix mesnili
Non-pathogenic
Harmless commensal
MOT for
- Chilomastix mesnili
- Trichomonas vaginalis
- Chilomastix mesnili
Ingestion of cyst in food and drinks - Trichomonas vaginalis
sexual intercourse
contaminated toilet seat and towel
Urogenital Flagellates
Trichomonas spp.
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas tenax
Trichomonas hominis
general characteristics for Trichomonas spp.
- rounded anterior end and somewhat pointed posterior end
- curved and rigid axostyle
- small cytostome on one side of the anterior end
- spherical nucleus
- blepharoplast is present margin from which 3-5 flagella and a marginal flagellum on an undulating membrane, the base attachment being heavy a costa
(costa - thickening on the side of the membrane)
Largest Trichomonas spp.
Trichomonas vaginalis
nucleus and cytoplasm of trichomonas vaginalis
NUCLEUS
Uninucleated anteriorly; ovoidal
Undulating membrane (½ of the length of the body) with a marginal flagellum
CYTOPLASM
Presence of siderophile granules
[small dark-staining granules that can be seen under a microscope.]
site of inhabitation for trichomonas vaginalis
MALE host
- epithelium of the urethra
- prostate gland
FEMALE host
- surface of vaginal epithelium
Male host is usually ASYMPTOMATIC carriers
the pathogenic trichomonas
trichomonas vaginalis
Disease: trichomoniasis
clinical manifestation of trichomonas vaginalis
Inflamed vaginal walls with petechial hemorrhage
Surface of the vaginal epithelium is covered with coagulated materials: leukocytes, RBC and trichomonas
Desquamation of the epithelial cells
Cause non-specific urethritis, vaginitis and prostatitis
trichomonas sign and symptoms
- female
- male
- female
Greenish yellow frothy vaginal discharge
Intense itchiness of the vagina (Pruritus)
Burning sensation
Strawberry colored cervix - male
thin, whitish discharge from the penis
diagnosis for trichomonas vaginalis
- Unstained saline wet preparation (trophozoite)
- Female specimen
Urine
Urethral discharges
Vaginal discharges
Cervical secretions
- Male specimen
Semen
Prostatic secretions - For stained preparations, ff stains may be used:
Giemsa
Pap’s
Romanowsky
Acridine orange
- Specimens may be cultured using the ff. culture media:
- Diamond’s modified medium
- Feinberg and Whittington culture media
- Cysteine peptone liver maltose
- Simplified trypticase serum - Semen culture
- Antigen detection
- Molecular methods
undulating membrane for the trichomonas spp
Trichomonas vaginalis
- ½ of the length of the body with a marginal flagellum
Trichomonas tenax
- ⅔ of the body
- does not reach the posterior end of the body
site of inhabitation and MOT for trichomonas tenax
Site of inhabitation: oral cavity
MOT: droplet spray from the mouth (kissing, common use of contaminated dishes and drinking glasses)
lab diagnosis for trichomonas tenax
- Swabbing the tartar between the gingival margin of the gums or the tonsillar crypts
- Direct examination of mouth scrapings
Trichomonas hominis aka
Pentatrichomonas hominis
site of inhabitation and MOT for trichomonas hominis
Site of inhabitation: colon
MOT: ingestion of contaminated food and water
*Trophozoites are presumed to pass out with diarrheic stools.
treatment for children under 5 years old with giardia lamblia
Furazolidone
