Intestinal Protozoa Flashcards
What is amebiasis?
Prevalence, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment
Developing countries
Entamoeba histolytica = pathogenic
E dispar= asymptomatic
Infection from ingesting cyst, which becomes trophozoite & does lysis on tissue –> colonic lesions, flask shaped ulcers
Symptoms = abdominal pain, watery stool + blood,
OR asymptomatic colonization
OR liver abscess
Diagnose with parasite in stool for colitis & for abscess, antibodies
Treat with metronidazole + idoquinol/paromycin /diloxanide furoate
What is dientamoeba fragilis?
Flagellate
Often comorbid with pinworm- do scotch tape test
asymptomatic or GI symptoms
Diagnose wtih trophozoites in stool
Treat with metronidazole, iodoquionl, tetracycline
What is giardiasis?
What, where, how, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment
Giardia lamblia: protozoa
Areas of poor sanitation - ingestion of viable cysts which becomes trophozoite (cause of disease)
Water, fecal/oral, foodborne transmission
Symptoms = diarrhea w/foul smelling stool, gas, bloating, abd cramps, malaise, anorexia, bad taste in mouth - NO tesesmus or blood
Diagnose with stool O/P, ELISA
Treat with metronidazole, tinidazole
What is cryptosorida?
Intracellular GI parasites
Problem bc current water purification doesn’t get them (too small, not chlorinated) & there’s no effective therapy
You get it from ingesting oocytes - water, person to person spread, nosocomial
Self limited caute, watery, nonbloody diarrhea, (abd cramps, fever possible) severe & persistent in AIDS patients
Diagnose with biopsy or oocysts in stool - acid fast, easy to miss
For HIV pt- immune reconstitution
Treat with nitazoxanide for children +/- HIV
What is cyclospora?
Guatemalan raspberries & basil - foodborne
Causes watery diarrhea alternating with constipation, fatigue, indigestion/heartburn, anorexia, flulike prodrome. Self-limited
Prolonged diarrhea in HIV patients
Diagnose based on oocytes in stool (it autofluoresces)
Treat with bactrim
How can you distinguish cryptosroda wnad cyclospora?
Cyclo = no person to person, so more sporadic/associated with a source
Crypto = can be spread person to person, so more persistent outbreaks
Cyclo = intermittent diarrhea/constipation, extreme fatigue
Crypto = diarrhea + flu
Cyclospora autofluoresces and respond to bactram
