GI Nematodes Flashcards
Nematodes (Physical Characteristics)
Roundworms
Non-segmented bodies
Separate sexes
Complete digestive system
GI Nematodes (General)
- Most common parasitic helminths in the U.S. and the world
- Contribute to malnutrition and a diminished work capacity (do not cause fatal infections)
- Most common in areas with poor sanitation, particularly in TROPICAL countries
- Children are most likely to be symptomatic
- Disease is usually caused by the presence of ADULT FORMS in the body
GI Nematodes (Life Cycle, Reproduction, Disease)
Life cycle: egg, multiple larval, and adult stages
- Separate sexes* (female is larger)
- Need to be infected by 2 or more to be shedding infectious eggs
- Adult worms are not going to increase in number, they are going to have sex and shed eggs into your stool
Some GI nematodes pass through other tissues (lung, skin) during development
CAUSE EOSINOPHILIA
GI Nematodes: Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm)
- Most common helminthic infection encountered in the U.S.
- “Geohelminths”
1) Nematode infection acquired through contact with infected soil
2) Larvae or eggs require a period of time to develop in warm moist soil
3) Two Groups: - Ascaris and Trichuris: ingestion of infectious EGGS
- Strongyloids and hookworms: penetration of the skin by infectious LARVAE found in the soil
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm) (Life Cycle)
- Grow in the mucosa (No bleeding or deep tissue invasion)
- Adults mate and release eggs; female worms crawl out of rectum onto anus and perianal folds and lays thousands of eggs (Flat on one side) every night; sticky, remain on the surface of the skin
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm) (Transmission)
- Fecal-oral*
- Ingestion of eggs
- Reinfection is common; so is TRANSMISSION WITHIN FAMILIES
- Pinworms of other animals DO NOT infect man
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm) (Disease, Diagnosis)
- Most infections are ASYMPTOMATIC
- Symptomatic infection = perianal itching (Secondary bacterial infection) and Appendicitis??
Diagnosis:
- Identification of eggs (adult worms) in perianal region
- FLAT-SIDED EGGS on SCOTCH-TAPE PREP*
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm) (Control/Prevention)
Treatment:
- Several ANTI-HELMINTHIC COMPOUNDS (Mebendazole, Pyrantel Pamoate). Usually a single dose, repeated again two weeks later.
- TREAT ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS*
Prevention:
-Good hygiene and housekeeping
Whipworm - Trichuris trichiura (Life Cycle)
1) Ingestion of infective stage embryonated egg
2) Eggs hatch in small intestine, releasing larva (larva penetrates and develops in mucosa of large intestine)
3) Larva migrates to large intestine
4) One-cell eggs in feces are released DIAGNOSTIC STAGE
5) Egg cells mature/divide for a few weeks before becoming in fectious
White, thread-like things on prolapsed rectum
Whipworm - Trichuris trichiura (Transmission)
Fecal-oral; contaminated soil
-Warm, moist soil promotes development of eggs
Whipworm - Trichuris trichiura (Asymptomatic vs Symptomatic Infections)
90% of infections are ASYMPTOMATIC
Symptomatic:
- Heavy worm burden (>200 adult worms)
- Bloody, mucus containing diarrhea
- Frequent stools
- RECTAL PROLAPSE in children
- May contribute to growth retardation, malnutrition, and anemia in children
Whipworm - Trichuris trichiura (Diagnosis and Control/Prevention)
Diagnosis:
-Identification of eggs in stool
Control/Prevention:
-Proper sanitation and personal hygiene
Ascariasis - Ascaris lumbricoides (Life Cycle)
Eggs are ingested by someone, break open, larvae are released and penetrate intestines, get into the circulation, travel through the LIVER, travel into the LUNGS, crawl up trachea and then are swallowed
Leads to GI and Pulmonary symptoms due to larvae going through lungs
Ascariasis - Ascaris lumbricoides (Characteristics)
- LARGEST of intestinal roundworms (about a foot long and as thick as a pencil)*
- 1 billion people infected, including a few million Americans
Ascariasis - Ascaris lumbricoides (Transmission)
-Fecal oral; soil contaminated with human feces
-Eggs need to develop in soil before they are infective (Geohelminth: needs to develop in soil)
-Humans are the only reservoir for A. lumbricoides
(Pig ascarid, A. suum rarely (if ever) infects humans)