Infectious Diseases of the Nervous System (bacteria, protozoa, helminths) Flashcards by Stacey Hansen

Infections of the membranes surrounding the brain

Meningitis

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Infections of the substance of the brain

Encephalitis

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Infections of localized site of the brain

Brain abscess

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Infections of the ventricular system of the brain

Ventriculitis

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Infections of the outer layer of meninges, between the dura and skull

Epidural abscess

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Inflammation of the spinal cord

Myelitis

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Inflammation of peripheral nerves

Neuritis

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Irritation of the brain and spinal cord with symptoms stimulating meningitis, but without actual inflammation

Meningismus

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Nuchal refers to this part of the body

Nape of the neck

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Is there pain with conjunctivitis?

No, mostly just irritation or discomfort
(unless there is also involvement of the cornea)

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Is conjunctivitis most commonly caused by viruses or bacteria?

Most cases are viral

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Does conjunctivitis caused by extra- or intracellular bacteria present with purulent exudate and sticky eyelids?

Extracellular

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Does conjunctivitis caused by extra- or intracellular bacteria present as nonpurulent with watery discharge?

Intracellular

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Is preauricular lymphadenopathy present in conjunctivitis caused by extra- or intracellular bactera?

Intracellular

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Is purulent exudate seen in conjunctivitis caused by extra- or intracellular bactera?

Extracellular
(have sticky eyelids)
(Intracellular presents as nonpurulent with watery discharge)

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Does conjunctivitis caused by Adenovirus or Coxsackie/Enterovirus present as pharyngoconjunctival fever?

Adenovirus

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Does conjunctivitis caused by Adenovirus or Coxsackie/Enterovirus present as acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis?

Coxsackie virus A24 and Enterovirus 70

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If pharmacotherapy is needed to treat bacterial conjunctivitis, an ophthalmic solution containing this drug is used

Fluoroquinolone

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2 types of Adenovirus that commonly cause conjunctivitis

Types 8 and 19

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This virus infects the conjunctiva via blood

Measles virus

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This virus reactivating in ophthalmic division of trigeminal ganglia causes corneal lesion dendritic ulcer

Herpes simplex virus

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These types of Chlamydia trachomatis cause trachoma and commonly blindness

Types A-C

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These types of Chlamydia trachomatis cause inclusion conjunctivitis
Infection occurs via fingers, or in newborns via birth canal

Types D-K

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These 3 microbes can cause eyelid infection (styes) and “sticky eye” in neonates

Staphylococcus aureus
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Haemophilus influenzae

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These 2 organisms are the most common cause of conjunctivitis with trauma in adults

Pseudomonas aeruginosa E. coli

Inflammation of the cornea that can threaten vision

Keratitis

Is there pain with keratitis?

Yes

Is there discharge with keratitis?

Usually no

Does this describe conjunctivitis or keratitis: Presents with pain and usually without discharge

Keratitis

Treatment for bacterial keratitis is typically eye drops containing this drug

Fluoroquine

Does conjunctivitis or keratitis etiology have causes including Bacillus species and several gram negative genera, including the Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas

Keratitis

Inflammation of the choroid and retina, often caused by infections such as toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, or tuberculosis

Chorioretinitis

Chorioretinitis is often caused by infections including these 3 organisms

Toxoplasmosis Cytomegalovirus Tuberculosis

Is Chlamydia trachomatis gram positive or negative?

Negative

Chlamydia trachomatis has a biphasic development cycle, and this is the metabolically inert, infectious form

Elementary body

Chlamydia trachomatis has a biphasic development cycle, and this is the metabolically active, non-infectious form

Reticulate body

Is the elementary body form of Chlamydia trachomatis metabolically inert or active?

Inert (is the infectious form)

Is the reticulate body form of Chlamydia trachomatis metabolically inert or active?

Active (is the non-infectious form)

Is the reticulate body form of Chlamydia trachomatis infectious or non-infectious?

Non-infectious

Is the elementary body form of Chlamydia trachomatis infectious or non-infectious?

Infectious

This obligate intracellular bacteria is an important cause of preventable blindness in the developing world

Chlamydia trachomatis

These 4 strains of Chlamydia trachomatis cause trachoma

Strains A, B, Ba and C

This organism causes a chronic inflammatory granulomatous process of the eye surface leading to corneal ulceration, scarring, pannus formation, and blindness Blindness is the result of conjunctival scarring and eyelid deformities

Chlamydia trachomatis (causes Trachoma)

These strains of Chlamydia trachomatis cause inclusion conjunctivitis

Strains D-K

This drug is the treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis eye infections

Azithromycin

Initial diagnostic goals with CNS infections is to obtain this

CSF

Empirical therapy with this drug should be initiated in patients with suspected encephalitis, pending results of diagnostic studies

Acyclovir

Is CSF normally clear or cloudy?

Clear and colorless (may appear cloudy or turbid in patients with increased concentrations of WBCs, RBCs, bacteria or protein)

Yellow or yellow-orange supernatant of centrifuged CSF that is usually a result of RBC lysis

Xanthochromia

Xanthochromia is a yellow or yellow-orange supernatant of centrifuged CSF, that is a result of this

RBC lysis

These 5 symptoms are the classic presentation of acute meningitis

Fever Headache Meningismus Photophobia Altered mental status

Fever, headache, meningismus, photophobia and altered mental status are distinct of presentation of this condition

Acute meningitis

What is the primary cell type seen in CSF findings in bacterial causes of meningitis?

Neutrophils

What is the primary cell type seen in CSF findings in viral causes of meningitis?

Mononuclear cells

Glucose is normal in meningitis caused by this type of microbe (Bacterial, cryptococcal, tuberculosis, or viral?)

Viral (all other caused low glucose)

WBC count is significantly elevated in this type of microbe that causes meningitis (Viral, bacterial, tuberculosis, or cryptococcal?)

Bacterial (is still elevated in other causes)

These 3 bacteria cause acute bacterial meningitis in patients aged less than 1 month

Streptococcus agalactiae E. coli Listeria monocytogenes

These 5 bacteria cause acute bacterial meningitis in patients aged 1-23 months

Strep agalactiae E. coli H. influenzae S. pneumoniae N. meningitidis

These 2 bacteria cause acute bacterial meningitis in patients aged 2-50 years

S. pneumoniae N. meningitidis

These 4 bacteria cause acute bacterial meningitis in patients aged more than 50 years

S. pneumoniae N. meningitidis L. monocytogenes Aerobic gram negative bacteria

Streptococcus agalactiae, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes cause acute bacterial meningitidis in this age group

<1 month

S. agalactiae, E. coli, H. influenzae, S. pneumoniae, and N. meningitidis cause acute bacterial meningitidis in this age group

1-23 months

S. pneumoniae and N. meningitidis cause acute bacterial meningitidis in this age group

2-50 years

S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, L. monocytogenes, and aerobic gram negative bacilli cause acute bacterial meningitidis in this age group

>50 years

What is the empirical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis in patients preterm to <1 month old?

Ampicillin + Cefotaxime + Gentamicin

What is the empirical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis in adult patients 1 month to 50 years old?

Cefotaxime + Vancomycin + Dexamethasone

What is the empirical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis in pediatric patients aged 1 month to 50 years old?

Cefotaxime + Vancomycin +/- Dexamethasone

What is the empirical therapy for acute bacterial meningitis in patients greater than 50 years old, or with other diseases?

Ampicillin + Ceftriaxone + Vancomycin + Dexamethasone

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram positive diplococcus (S. pneumoniae)?

3rd gen cephalosporin + Vancomycin (Penicillin G can be used alone or in combination with other antibiotics if susceptibility is known)

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram positive cocci (group B strep)?

Ampicillin + Gentamicin

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram positive bacilli or coccobacilli (L. monocytogenes)?

Ampicillin +/- Gentamicin

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram negative diplococcus (N. meningitidis)?

3rd generation cephalosporin or Penicillin G

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram negative coccobacilli (H. influenzae)?

Dexamethasone + 3rd generation cephalosporin

What is the specific drug therapy for acute bacterial meningitis for gram negative bacilli (P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Enteric gram negatives)?

3rd or 4th generation cephalosporin + Gentamicin

Is Neisseria meningitidis gram positive or negative?

Negative

With is the shape of Neisseria meningitidis?

Kidney-shaped diplococci +/- capsule

Is Neisseria meningitidis oxidase positive or negative?

Positive

Neisseria meningitidis grows on blood and chocolate agar, as well as this agar that specifically isolates Neisseria

Thayer-Martin (VPN) agar

Thayer-Martin (VPN) agar isolates this species of microbe

Neisseria

Bacteria with distinct capsular types A, B, C, Y, W-135

Neisseria meningitidis

Neisseria meningitidis is carried in this part of the body of healthy people

Nasopharynx

Patients who have been in close contain with Neisseria meningitidis receive prophylaxis with either of these 2 drugs

Ciprofloxacin or Rifampin

Sudden onset fever, sore throat and headache occur with Neisseria meningitidis, after an incubation period of:

1-3 days

Bacteria that often presents with a hemorrhagic rash with petechiae (meingococcemia) The rash is macular and non-blanching, due to the septicemic nature of the organism

Neisseria meningitidis

Complications of infection with this bacteria include disseminated intravascular coagulation, endotoxic shock, renal failure

Neisseria meningitidis

Is Haemophilus influenzae gram positive or negative?

Negative

The majority of cases of Haemophilus influenzae are of this type, which has a capsule and IgA protease

Type B

What is the incubation period of Haemophilus influenzae?

5-6 days

This bacteria has a more insidious onset than meningococcal or pneumococcal meningitis Less fatal but serious sequelae including delayed language development, mental retardation, and seizures Permanent hearing loss is common

Haemophilus influenzae

Patients with close contact to Haemophilus influenzae receive prophylaxis with this drug

Rifampin

Haemophilus influenzae best grows on this agar

chocolate agar

This organism requires X (hematin) and V (NAD+) factors for growth

Haemophilus influenzae

Haemophilus influenzae requires X and V factors for growth What is X factor?

Hematin from RBC

Haemophilus influenzae requires X and V factors for growth What is V factor?

NAD+ from serum (S. aureus can excrete NAD, causing satellite phenomenon)

Haemophilus influenzae requires X and V factors for growth Which one is hematin from RBC?

Haemophilus influenzae requires X and V factors for growth Which one is NAD+ from serum?

Is Streptococcus pneumoniae gram positive or negative?

Positive

Streptococcus pneumoniae does this type of hemolysis

Alpha-hemolytic

Is Streptococcus pneumoniae catalase positive or negative?

Negative

This bacteria causes around half of all meningitis cases

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Virulence factors of this bacteria include IgA protease, pneumolysin O, autolysin, and protein A

Streptococcus pneumoniae

This organism can be differentiated from viridans streptococci by being sensitive to optochin (a quinine derivative) and sensitive to bile due to increased autolytic amidase

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae can be differentiated from this organism by being sensitive to optochin (a quinine derivative) and sensitive to bile due to increased autolytic amidase

Viridans streptococci

Streptococcus pneumoniae can be differentiated from viridans streptococci by being sensitive to this

Optochin (a quinine derivative) and to bile (due to increased autolytic amidase)

Mortality and severe neurologic deficits are 4-20 times more common in patients infected with this bacteria than those with meningitis from other organisms

Streptococcus pneumoniae

This bacterial meningitis involves children and adolescents, with acute onset (6-24 hours) and skin rash

Neisseria meningitidis

This bacterial meningitidis involves children less than 5 years old, with onset often less acute (1-2 days)

H. influenzae

This bacterial meningitidis affects patients of all ages, but especially children less than 2 years old and the elderly. Acute onset may follow pneumoniae and/or septicemia in elderly

S. pneumoniae

This species of Neisseria ferments glucose AND maltose

N. meningitidis

This species of Neisseria ferments only glucose

N. gonorrhoeae

This technique in the diagnosis of bacteria meningitis involves anticapsular antibodies to visualize and type the capsule for all encapsulated pathogens

Quellung reaction

This technique in the diagnosis of bacteria meningitis involves the detection of capsular antigens in CSF/blood

Latex particle agglutination

What is the type of vaccine against N. meningitidis?

Meningococcal polysaccharide-diphtheria toxoid conjugate vaccine

What is the type of vaccine against H. influenzae?

Type B (Hib) conjugate vaccines

What are the 2 types of vaccine against S. pneumoniae?

PCV13 (protein conjugate) PPSV23 (capsular polysaccharide alone)

S. agalactiae is in this group of Strepcocci

Group B

Group B streptococci are this type of hemolytic

Beta-hemolytic

Is Group B streptococci catalase positive or negative?

Negative

Group B streptococci can be distinguished from Group A due to their resistance to this drug

Bacitracin

This protein helps identify S. agalactiae (a Group B streptococcus)

CAMP factor

Most cases of S. agalactiae are of this type in early onset neonatal GBS meningitis

Type III

Chemoprophylaxis should be used for all colonized or at risk women for S. agalactiae, and involves this drug administered through IV at least 4 hours before delivery

Penicillin G

Do patients aged less than 7 days typically have early or late onset disease with S. agalactiae?

Early (pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis)

Is early or late onset disease with Group B strep (e.g. S. agalactiae) more fatal?

Early onset (~60% fatal, serious sequelae in many survivors)

Is E. coli gram positive or negative?

Negative

This strain of E. coli produces capsule with sialic acid residues attached to it and prevent binding to C3b and MAC formation

E. coli K1 produces capsule with residues of this

Sialic acid

The fimbriae of E. coli have adhesions specific for these two structures

Vascular endothelium Epithelial lining of choroid plexus

This bacteria has fimbriae adhesions specific for vascular endothelium and epithelial lining of choroid plexus

E. coli

Is Listeria monocytogenes gram positive or negative?

Positive

Listeria monocytogenes does this type of hemolysis

Beta-hemolytic

Is Listeria monocytogenes catalase positive or negative?

Positive

In addition to Strep agalactiae, this bacteria is also CAMP positive

Listeria monocytogenes

In addition to Strep agalactiae, Listeria monocytogenes is also positive for this protein

CAMP

Listeria monocytogenes can be grown on this type of agar

Charcoal yeast extract agar

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular parasite of this type of cell

Mononuclear phagocytes

Can Listeria monocytogenes cross the placenta?

Yes

This bacteria is an important cause of meningitis in immunocompromised adults, in addition to GI infections

Listeria monocytogenes

This protein on the surface of Listeria monocytogenes polymerizes actin and helps the bacteria move and spread

ActA

ActA is a protein that polymerizes actin in order to help this bacteria move and spread

Listeria monocytogenes

Granulomatosis infantiseptica is a severe form of early onset of infection with this bacteria, that is characterized by the formation of abscesses and granulomas in multiple organs and a high mortality rate unless treated promptly

Listeria monocytogenes

Does Listeria monocytogenes have a low or high mortality rate?

High

Infection with this bacteria is rare and insidious, and always has a focus elsewhere in the body It causes severe damage to vessels, nerves, and the arachnoid membrane with complications like nerve damage, vasculitis, cerebral infarction

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

This spirochete is the causative agent of neurosyphilis

Treponema pallidum

Neurosyphilis is caused by Treponema pallidum, and is treated with this drug

Penicillin

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi, and is treated with this drug

Ceftriaxone

This is a spirochete with tight, regular coils, and is motile by means of endoflagella It is too thin to be seen by routine light microscopy; specimens are visualized by darkfield illumination or immunofluorescence staining

Treponema pallidum

Do brain abscesses cause seizures?

Yes

What is the typical source of brain abscesses?

Bacteremia seeding from a distant site

What is the treatment for bacterial brain abscesses?

Drainage and Cefotaxime (if S. aureus is suspected, Vancomycin should be added)

Treatment for bacterial brain abscesses includes Cefotaxime, but this drug should be added if S. aureus is suspected

Vancomycin

Treatment for bacterial brain abscesses includes Cefotaxime, but Vancomycin should be added if this organism is suspected

S. aureus

Is Nocardia asteroides gram positive or negative?

Positive

This bacteria is an aerobic gram positive rod forming thin branching filaments (was initially thought to be a fungus due to its appearance)

Nocardia asteroides

Is Nocardia asteroides catalase positive or negative?

Positive

Is Nocardia asteroides urease positive or negative?

Positive

This bacteria that forms thin branching filaments can cause ring enhancing lesions on CT

Nocardia asteroides

Nocardia asteroides typically infects this type of patient

Immunocompromised (especially transplant patients)

What drugs are used to treat Nocardia asteroides?

TMP-SMX (sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) and Imipenem

Does Clostridium tetani form spores?

Yes

This bacteria is an obligate anaerobe gram positive spore-forming bacilli with terminal round spores

Clostridium tetani

Clostridium tetani causes tetanus by this specific toxin

A-B neurotoxin (tetanospasmin) is a plasmid-encoded zinc endopeptidase

This organism has an A-B neurotoxin, that is a plasmid-encoded zinc endopeptidase

Clostridium tetani

Clostridium tetani releases A-B neurotoxin (tetanospasmin), that is carried in peripheral nerve axons and the blood to the CNS, where it binds to neurons and blocks these 2 inhibitory mediators in spinal synapses (causing convulsive contractions)

Glycine and GABA

This bacteria releases a toxin that binds to neurons and blocks inhibitory mediators in spinal synapses

Clostridium tetani

Does Clostridium tetani bind to neurons and block excitatory or inhibitory mediators in spinal synapses?

Inhibitory (glycine and GABA) Causes convulsive contractions of voluntary muscles

This bacteria causes convulsive contractions of voluntary muscles Excitatory paralysis

Clostridium tetani

This bacteria has seven antigenic types of prophage encoded, heat labile, acid-stable exotoxins (A-G) Produces the most potent toxins known to man It is made in association with germination of spores

Clostridium botulinum

This bacteria acts at neuromuscular junctions inhibiting acetylcholine release

Clostridium botulinum

This bacteria causes muscle paralysis and death from respiratory failure Flaccid paralysis results

Clostridium botulinum

Infants may be infected with this bacteria from being fed honey contaminated with spores

Clostridium botulinum

This nonsuppurative poststreptococcal sequelae is characterized by rapid, irregular, and aimless involuntary movements of the arms, legs, trunk, and facial muscles

Sydenham chorea

The random, writhing movements of chorea are caused by this, that interferes with the normal function of a part of the brain (the basal ganglia) that controls motor movements

Autoimmune reaction

Sydenham chorea is a post infection sequelae of this bacteria

Streptococcus

What is PANDAS in the context of CNS infections?

Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections

These two protozoa are opportunistic pathogens that can invade the eye, nasal mucosa and extend to the brain Most infections occur during the summer from exposure during swimming

Naegleria fowleri and Acanthamoeba species

This organism is the most common cause of primary amebic meningoencephalitis

Naegleria fowleri ("brain eating amoeba")

What drugs are the treatment of choice for Naegleria fowleri?

Amphotericin B with miconazole and rifampin

Symptoms of infection with this protozoa include intense frontal headache, sore throat, fever, blocked nose, altered sense of tase and smell, stiff neck, Kernig sign

Naegleria fowleri

This protozoa usually causes granulomatous amebic encephalitis producing a single or multiple brain abscesses primarily in the immunocompromised

Acanthamoeba species

This drug is the treatment for Acanthamoeba species

Topical biguanide chlorhexidine

Keratitis can occur from eye trauma then contact with soil or water contaminated with this protozoan Presents with corneal ulceration and severe pain Contaminated contact lenses have been documented

Acanthamoeba species

What is the vector for Trypanosoma brucei?

Tsetse fly

Tsetse fly is the vector for this protozoan

Trypanosoma brucei

This is the infectious stage of Trypanosoma brucei

Trypomastigote

Posterior triangle cervical lymphadenopathy, or "Winterbottom's sign" occurs in the first stage of disease with this protozoan

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Is the first or second stage disease with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense considered hemolymphatic?

First stage (involves nonspecific signs and symptoms such as recurring fever due to antigenic variation, pruritis, and lymphadenopathy)

Is the first or second stage disease with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense considered meningoencephalitic?

Second stage (invasion of the CNS causes a variety of neuropsychiatric manifestations)

This protozoan causes West and East African sleeping sickness

Trypanosoma brucei

This protozoan has two subspecies that are morphologically indistinguishable, and cause West and East African sleeping sickness

Trypanosoma brucei

Which subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei is often fatal after several years duration?

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Which subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei has a shorter incubation period?

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

With this subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei, acute disease occurs more rapidly and progresses to fulminating, rapidly fatal illness Death in 9-12 months if untreated

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

What are the two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei?

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and rhodesiense

What is the drug of choice for the acute blood and lymphatic stage of disease with Trypanosoma brucei?

Pentamidine

What is the pharmacotherapy for Trypanosoma brucei when the CNS is involved?

Eflornithine plus nifurtimox

What is the reservoir for Toxoplasma gondii?

Common house cat

The common house cat is the essential reservoir for this intracellular coccidian parasite

Toxoplasma gondii

With this protozoan, transplacental infection can occur and is devastating, part of TORCH syndrome

Toxoplasma gondii

Are most infections with Toxoplasma gondii benign or serious?

Benign and asymptomatic

CNS manifestations in the immunocompromised with this protozoan include diffuse encephalopathy, meningoencephalitis, and cerebral mass lesions MRI ring-enhancing lesions are seen

Toxoplasma gondii

Most infections with Toxoplasma gondii do not need therapy, except the immunocompromised, which should be treated with this

Pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine

This protozoan is a coccidian parasite of blood cells

Plasmodium falciparum

Infection with this protozoan can cause capillary plugging from accumulation of malarial pigment and masses of cells can result in coma and death

Plasmodium falciparum

This is a rat lung worm, with larvae that causes eosinophilic meningitis

Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Infective larvae of Angiostrongylus cantonensis are found in this kind of animal

Mollusks (such as slugs and land snails)

This drug is the treatment for Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Corticosteroids (albendazole can be used)

This species of helminths can cause damage as larval migrans in the skin and nervous system The worm is visible as it snakes its way along

Toxocara species

This drug is the treatment for Toxocara species infections

Albendazole (or by cryotherapy) Corticosteroids for serious infections

Parasitic nematode causing Trichinosis

Trichinella spiralis

Trichinella spiralis lives in these organs of mammals

Duodenum and jejunum

Nematode that lives in the mucosa of the duodenum and jejunum of flesh eating mammals

Trichinella spiralis

This nematode is transmitted by consumption of undercooked meats, particularly pork

Trichinella spiralis

This nematode can infect the CNS as meningoencephalitis and cerebrovascular accident Humans are dead-end hosts; larvae will die and calcify

Trichinella spiralis

Treatment of Trichinella spiralis during the GI phase consists of this drug Otherwise symptomatic treatment

Albendazole

Nematode that causes river blindness

Onchocerca volvulus

Larvae of this nematode are transmitted by Simulium blackfly vector

Onchocerca volvulus

All stages of infection with this nematode contain Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts

Onchocerca volvulus

Infection with this nematode involves the skin, subcutaneous tissue, lymph nodes and eyes Diagnosis by demonstrating microfilariae in a skin snip

Onchocerca volvulus

Development of an encephalopathic syndrome in people with very high levels of L. loa can follow treatment of this nematode

Onchocerca volvulus

Parasitic nematode referred to as the African eye worm

Loa loa

Loa loa is transmitted by deerflies (mango flies or mangrove flies) of this genus

Chrysops

This nematode is transmitted by deerflies (mango flies or mangrove flies) of the genus Chrysops

Loa loa

This nematode is confined to equatorial rain forests of Africa

Loa loa

First signs of infection with this nematode are fugitive or Calabar swellings, mainly in the extremities as worms migrate through subcutaneous tissues creating large, nodular areas that are painful and pruritic

Loa loa

Infection with this nematode is diagnosed by clinical observations of Calabar swelling or migrating worms in the eye

Loa loa

This drug is the treatment for Loa loa infections Risk of severe allergic reaction

Diethylcarbamazine

Cysticercosis is caused by this helminth

Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)

This condition is the leading cause of seizure disorders in endemic regions of Taenia solium

Neurocysticercosis

This organism causes neurocysticercosis, the leading cause of seizure disorders in endemic regions

Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)

Are cases of cysticercosis mild or severe?

Most are entirely asymptomatic

This organism is considered a canine tapeworm Ingestion of eggs by humans hatches a 6 hooked larvae called a oncosphere Penetrates the intestinal wall and enters circulation Primarily liver and lungs but also CNS Larvae form hydatid cysts, slowing growing tumor-like structures where tapeworm heads develop

Echinococcus granulosus

Surgical resection of the cyst is the treatment of choice for infection with this helminth Cysts accumulate fluid as they grow Most hydatid cysts are symptomatic and highly allergenic

Echinococcus granulosus

This organism is considered the lung fluke (Trematode)

Paragonimus westermani

Migrating larval worms of this species can penetrate the spinal cord and brain, causing severe neurologic symptoms such as visual disturbances, motor weakness, and convulsive seizures (cerebral paragonimiasis)

Paragonimus westermani

What is the drug of choice for treating Paragonimus westermani?

Triclabendazole