Fungal and parasitic infections of the CNS

Question 1

What are the five fungi that have potential to cause systemic infections?

Answer 1

1. Histoplasma 2. Blastomyces 3. Paracoccidioides 4. Coccidioides 5. Cryptococcus

Question 2

What is the leading cause of fungal meningitis?

Answer 2

Cryptococcal meningitis

Question 3

Which fungus is yeast in both environment and tissues?

Answer 3

Cryptococcus neoformans

Question 4

Which fungus is dimorphic?

Answer 4

Coccidioides immitis

Question 5

Which fungus has a spherule as part of its development?

Answer 5

Coccidiodes immitis - spherule in tissues

Question 6

What is the treatment for coccidial meningitis?

Answer 6

Amphotericin B

Question 7

What is the treatment for cryptococcal meningitis?

Answer 7

6-10 weeks with Amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine / fluconazole

Question 8

What are the zygomycetes?

Answer 8

Rhizopus, absidia, mucor

Question 9

What is the morphology of the zygomycetes?

Answer 9

Broad, aseptate hyphae and sporangia bearing sporangiophores

Question 10

Which fungal infection is seen primarily in diabetic patients?

Answer 10

Rhinocerebral zygomycosis

Question 11

Rhinocerebral zygomycosis is seen mostly in what population?

Answer 11

Diabetic

Question 12

Entamoeba histolytica is associated with what condition?

Answer 12

Brain abscess

Question 13

Trypanosoma brucei is associated with what condition?

Answer 13

Sleeping sickness

Question 14

Plasmodium falciparum is associated with what condition?

Answer 14

Cerebral malaria

Question 15

What are the three free-living amoeba?

Answer 15

Acanthamoeba, naegleria, balamuthia

Question 16

What causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis?

Answer 16

Naegleria fowleri

Question 17

Naegleria fowleri is typically seen in what environments?

Answer 17

1. Mostly in southern states 2. Hot tubs 3. Neti pots

Question 18

What causes granulomatous amoebic encephalitis?

Answer 18

Acanthamoeba and balamuthia

Question 19

Acanthamoeba keratitis is mostly seen in what type of condition?

Answer 19

Chronic infection of cornea - associated with contact lens use

Question 20

What is the lifecycle of toxoplasma gondii?

Answer 20

1. Sporozoan parasite that reproduces in gut of cats 2. Oocysts contaminate food

Question 21

What indicates acute infection during prenatal toxoplasma gondii testing?

Answer 21

IgM or rising IgG titer

Question 22

Ingestion of encysted taenia solium larvae results in what condition?

Answer 22

Intestinal disease

Question 23

Ingestion of embryonated taenia solium eggs results in what condition?

Answer 23

Extra-intestinal disease

Question 24

Neurocysticercosis is a complication from what disease?

Answer 24

Taenia solium (pork tapeworm) extra-intestinal infection

Question 25

What is visceral larval migrans?

Answer 25

Infection of man by ascarid worms which normally infect dogs and cats

Question 26

What are the common migration sites for visceral larval migrans?

Answer 26

Granulomatous lesions in liver, spleen, lung, and eye