GI parasites

Question 1

Two types of parasites that cause GI disease

Answer 1

protozoans (single celled) or helminths (worm)

Question 2

Giardia lamblia reservoir

Answer 2

beaver, cattle, dogs, rodents, sheep etc

Question 3

What is the common presentation of giardiasis

Answer 3

travelers’ diarrhea

Question 4

Giardia transmission

Answer 4

spread via cysts: ingestion of cyst-infected water, person-person

Question 5

At what point of a giardia infection are you symptomatic

Answer 5

when the organism is reproducing in the gut

Question 6

Clinical presentation of acute symptomatic giardiasis

Answer 6

diarrhea, abdominal cramps, bloating, and flatulence

-sulfuric belching, weight loss

Question 7

Treatment for giardiasis

Answer 7

metronidazole

Question 8

Cryptosporidium parasitology

Answer 8

cocccidian

Question 9

cryptosporidium infectious component

Answer 9

oocyst

Question 10

Who is most at risk for cryptospiridium

Answer 10

children from 0-4

Question 11

What is the reservoir for cryptospiridium

Answer 11

calves, lambs, goats, ets

Question 12

What is the infectious dose of cryptospiridium

Answer 12

as few as 4 oocysts can cause infection

Question 13

clinical presentation of cryptospiridium infection

Answer 13

severity and duration based on immunocompetency; usually acute, self-limiting diarrhea for 10-14 days

Question 14

treatment for cryptospiridium

Answer 14

nitazoxanide to shorten duration

Question 15

cryptospiridium in immunocompromised

Answer 15

severe, chronic, and life-threatening

Question 16

Pathogenesis of E histolytica infection

Answer 16

E histolytica disrupts protective mucus layer, results in ulcers and dissemination

Question 17

What is the presentation for an E histolytica infection that has gotten into the portal circulation

Answer 17

hepatic abscess: fever, RUQ pain, rarely diarrhea

Question 18

Three main tape worms

Answer 18

T saginata (beef) and T solium (pork) and Diphyllobothrium latum (fish)

Question 19

What kind of infection do tapeworms cause in animals

Answer 19

cysticercosis: cysticerci in striated muscle

Question 20

Which tape worm is more likely to cause symptoms

Answer 20

T. saginata (beef) because they are larger

Question 21

Ascaris lumbricoides

Answer 21

most common helminth infection of humans (1/4), need a male and a female in the GI tract to create a severe infection

Question 22

Ascaris life cycle

Answer 22

ingest the egg > hatches in intestine > larva travels thru mucosa to liver to lung > larva is coughed up and then swallowed > worm is sexually mature in sm intestine

Question 23

When is ascaris most dangerous

Answer 23

when you have a male and female producing new worms > intestinal blockage

Question 24

Trichuriasis

Answer 24

found in humid tropical environments and temperate zones

Question 25

Clinical manifestation of mild trichuria infection

Answer 25

peripheral blood eosinophilia

Question 26

Clinical manifestation of severe trichuria infection

Answer 26

mucosa is inflamed, edematous and friable; can cause rectal prolapse

Question 27

Two examples of hookworm

Answer 27

ancylostoma duodenale, necator americanus

Question 28

How is a hookworm infection acquired?

Answer 28

penetration through skin, carried by blood to heart and lungs, swallowed in sputum, mature in the GI tract

Question 29

Enterobius vermicularis

Answer 29

pinworm, most common in states

Question 30

most common presentation of enterobius vermicularis infection

Answer 30

perianal pruritus esp at night in children or institutionalized individuals