Fungal and Parasitic infections of CNS

Question 1

What species is the leading cause of fungal meningitis world wide?

Answer 1

Cryptococcus neoformans.

Question 2

What type of fungi is Coccidiodes immitis?

Answer 2

It is a dimorphic fungi found as a mold in the environment and a yeast in the body,

Question 3

What type of fungi is Cryptococcus neoformans?

Answer 3

This is non dimorphic fungi that appears as an encapsulated yeast.

Question 4

Where is Coccidiodes immitis most often found in the United States?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Following inhilation of the coccidodes immitus mold, the species becomes what?

Answer 5

It then becomes a multinucleated spherule in the body.

Question 6

How is Coccidiodes treated?

Answer 6

Treated with Amphoterecin B, very rare cause of meningitis.

Question 7

How is Cryptococcus neoformans typically spread?

Answer 7

Typically spread in bird droppings, specifically pidgeon droppings.

Question 8

What is the most typical infection caused by cryptococcus?

Answer 8

Cryptococcus is most typically seen causing meningitis with very very slow progression of symptoms (1 month)

Question 9

How is Cryptococcus treated?

Answer 9

Amphotericin B and 5 fluorocytosine or fluconazole.

Question 10

What are some conditions that could increase your chance of zygomycoses infection?

Answer 10

Burns
Diabetes
and immuno suppression.

This mold is found in common fruits and breads and spreads to the sinuses leading to rhinocerebral zygomycosis.

Question 11

What is diagnostic of zygomycoses infections?

Answer 11

Broad aseptate hyphae frequently observed in blood vessels branching at 90 degree right angles.

Question 12

How is Naelgleria fowleri contracted?

Answer 12

Seen when swimming in warm waters, Netipots.

Question 13

What microbe causes Primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and what is it?

Answer 13

PAM is caused by Naegleria fowleri aquired in warm swimming water leading to almost always fatal nasal infections.

Question 14

How is Primary amebic meningoencephalitis treated and diagnosed?

Answer 14

Diagnosed by observation of trophozoites in bipsy from CSF.

Some success with amphotericin B.

Question 15

What microbe causes Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis and what is it?

Answer 15

Caused by Acanthamoeba and Balamuthia amoeba causing a slow ulcerative lesion (Much slower than PAM).

Question 16

How can Toxoplasma gondii be contracted?

Answer 16

Contracted from accidental ingestion of cysts in cat feces, pork, lamb, beef, and chicken.

Question 17

What hapens if Acanthamoeba ends up in the eye?

Answer 17

Causes Acanthamoeba keratitis and is most commonly associated with contact use.

Question 18

What microbe is most often associated in eye infections of those who use contacts?

Answer 18

Acanthamoeba!

Question 19

If a maternal infection occurs in the first trimester what perentage chance does the infant have of being infected?

Answer 19

25% chance of infection but with extremely severe disease.

Question 20

If Toxoplasmosis occurs during the third trimester what chance does the baby have of being infected?

Answer 20

Theres a 65% chance of infection but the infection will be far more mild than in the first trimester.

Question 21

What are the cysts called formed around Toxoplasmosis gondii infections?

Answer 21

These are typically known as bradyzoites!

Question 22

If a mom is tested for Toxoplasma gondii, what would show chronic vs acute infection?

Answer 22

Chronic infections would have high levels of IgG

Acute infections would have high levels of IgM.

Question 23

What does IgM in a newborn when testing for toxoplasma indicate?

Answer 23

Indicates a congenital infection however, not all infected newborns are IgM positive.

Question 24

How is Taenia solium transmitted?

Answer 24

Taeinia solium is transmitted by ingestion of embryonated eggs resulting in extraintestinal diseases (cytsticercosis)

Question 25

Where are most cases of Neurocysticercosis found?

Answer 25

Typically found in immagrants from endemic areas THINK MEXICO

Question 26

What are Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati?

Answer 26

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.