Intestinal protozoa Flashcards
What are the medically important protozoal groups?
Amoeba
Flagellates
CIliate
Apicomplexes (sporozoa)
What is Giardia lamblia also called?
G. intestinalis
G. duodenalis
Describe the trophozoite of g.lamblia
Pear-shaped
Ventral flagella
Sucking disk
Which protozoa is cryptosporidium parvum?
Apicomplexa
What is unique about crypto parvum?
Intracellular but extra cytoplasmic
No treatments
Can be confused with Yeats
Describe the oocyst of cystospora belli
Spiral shaped oocyst with 2 sporocysts that each contain 4 sporozoites
What type of protozoa is balantidium coli?
Ciliate
How is balantidium coli different to amoebiasis?
No extra-intestinal invasion
What is the natural host of balantidium coli?
Pigs
Discuss blastocystis hominis
Thought to be amoeba -> yeast -> strimenopile group
Debated if pathogen vs commensal
Treatment is flagyl
Discuss microsporidia
Unusual fungi that act like protozoa
Polar tubule released from spore that inserts nuclear material into host cell
Discuss enterocytozoon bieneusi
Diarrhea in immunosuppressed
Lots of itis eg keratitis
Albendazole treatment
