Helminths & Protozoa Flashcards
This protozoan is highly resistant to chlorine and is often spread through water at community pools and water parks.
Cryptosporidium parvum
What is the recommended treatment for tapeworm infection without neurocysticercosis?
Praziquantel
What symptoms are associated with severe Trichuris trichura (whipworm) infection?
Malnutrition, tenesmus, rectal prolapse
This cestode parasite can cause neurocysticercosis in humans.
Taenia solium (Pork Tapeworm)
This parasite is associated with pork and bear meat. How is it diagnosed?
Trichinella spiralis - diagnosed by the presence of encysted larva in striated muscle
This parasite is spread via itching and diagnosed using the scotch tape test.
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)
True/False. Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) does not cause cysticercosis in humans.
True
This parasite is known as the urinary blood fluke. Its reservoir is primates and eggs are found in the bladder wall.
Schistosoma haematobium
This parasite presents with itching, blotching, and wheezing and is diagnosed by the presence of larvae in stool.
Strongyloides stercoralis
What is the treatment for enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)?
Albendazole/Mebendazole
What is the treatment for Cryptosporidium infection?
Nitazoxanide
What is the treatment for cyclospora cayetanensis?
Trimethoprim/sulfa
Infection with this parasite is associated with microcytic hypochromic iron deficiency anemia, pot-belly, and pica.
Ancylostoma duodenale (hookwork)
What is a complication of infection with Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm)?
Vitamin B12 deficiency, megaloblastic anemia
This protozoan is associated with relapsing and remitting cycles of explosive diarrhea. Its cysts must also mature and are not immediately infectious.
Cyclospora cayetanensis
This parasite is known as the intestinal blood fluke and is passed via skin penetration with infected water.
Schistosoma mansoni
This pear-shaped protozoan causes watery, foul-smelling diarrhea and flatulence.
Giardia lamblia
True/False. Snails are always an intermediate host for all trematodes.
True
Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the largest nematodes transmitted via fecal-oral route. What complications are associated with the worm?
Hemorrhagic pneumonia, intestinal obstruction, hives
How does Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm) infect humans?
Larvae penetrate the skin, generally the feet. They travel the bloodstream to the heart and lungs, where they infiltrate the trachea, are coughed up, and swallowed.
This protozoa causes watery stools with blood and mucus. It also forms “teardrop, flask-shaped” ulcers.
Entamoeba histolytica
