Fungal and Parasitic infections of CNS Flashcards
What species is the leading cause of fungal meningitis world wide?
Cryptococcus neoformans.
What type of fungi is Coccidiodes immitis?
It is a dimorphic fungi found as a mold in the environment and a yeast in the body,
What type of fungi is Cryptococcus neoformans?
This is non dimorphic fungi that appears as an encapsulated yeast.
Where is Coccidiodes immitis most often found in the United States?
Typically found in the he Western hemisphere within the San Joaquin Valley of California and Southern Arizona.
This fungi follows phases of drought patterns and spreads in dust.
Following inhilation of the coccidodes immitus mold, the species becomes what?
It then becomes a multinucleated spherule in the body.
How is Coccidiodes treated?
Treated with Amphoterecin B, very rare cause of meningitis.
How is Cryptococcus neoformans typically spread?
Typically spread in bird droppings, specifically pidgeon droppings.
What is the most typical infection caused by cryptococcus?
Cryptococcus is most typically seen causing meningitis with very very slow progression of symptoms (1 month)
How is Cryptococcus treated?
Amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine or fluconazole.
What are some conditions that could increase your chance of zygomycoses infection?
Burns
Diabetes
and immuno suppression.
This mold is found in common fruits and breads and spreads to the sinuses leading to rhinocerebral zygomycosis.
What is diagnostic of zygomycoses infections?
Broad aseptate hyphae frequently observed in blood vessels branching at 90 degree right angles.
How is Naelgleria fowleri contracted?
Seen when swimming in warm waters, Netipots.
What microbe causes Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and what is it?
PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri aquired in warm swimming water leading to almost always fatal nasal infections.
How is Primary amebic meningoencephalitis treated and diagnosed?
Diagnosed by observation of trophozoites in bipsy from CSF.
Some success with amphotericin B.
What microbe causes Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and what is it?
Caused by Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia amoeba causing a slow ulcerative lesion (Much slower than PAM).
How can Toxoplasma gondii be contracted?
Contracted from accidental ingestion of cysts in cat feces, pork, lamb, beef, and chicken.
What hapens if Acanthamoeba ends up in the eye?
Causes Acanthamoeba keratitis and is most commonly associated with contact use.
What microbe is most often associated in eye infections of those who use contacts?
Acanthamoeba!
If a maternal infection occurs in the first trimester what perentage chance does the infant have of being infected?
25% chance of infection but with extremely severe disease.
If Toxoplasmosis occurs during the third trimester what chance does the baby have of being infected?
Theres a 65% chance of infection but the infection will be far more mild than in the first trimester.
What are the cysts called formed around Toxoplasmosis gondii infections?
These are typically known as bradyzoites!
If a mom is tested for Toxoplasma gondii, what would show chronic vs acute infection?
Chronic infections would have high levels of IgG
Acute infections would have high levels of IgM.
What does IgM in a newborn when testing for toxoplasma indicate?
Indicates a congenital infection however, not all infected newborns are IgM positive.
How is Taenia solium transmitted?
Taeinia solium is transmitted by ingestion of embryonated eggs resulting in extraintestinal diseases (cytsticercosis)
Where are most cases of Neurocysticercosis found?
Typically found in immagrants from endemic areas THINK MEXICO
What are Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati?
These are two forms of ascarid worms that normally infect cats and dogs but can accidentally infect humans following ingestion of EGGS.
These worms get lost in the human body and die in tissues forming encysted bodies. this process is known as visceral migrans MARKED BY EOSINOPHILIA.
