Intestinal/Tissue/Atrial Protozoa - Cal Flashcards
Long hair-like structures; characteristic of mastigophorans
Facilitates propelling of organism and in some cases procurement of food
Flagella
Organisms often describes by number/arrangement of flagellae
Short hair-like structures; surrounds the organism, often in rows
Cilia
Metabolic stage
Active, vegetative; feeding
Capable of movement:
Motility dependent on organelles
trophozoite
Capable of reproduction: Mitotic division; mostly binary or transverse fission
Intracellular inclusions
trophozoite
Dormant stages, produced by many of the protozoans
Capable of protection: During adverse environmental conditions
Cyst
Cyst wall: Secreted?
scleroproteins
The cyst stage in most parasitic species is entered just prior to passage from the host and all material, which has not been metabolized, is cast from the cell. This stage is associated with?
transmission to a new host
Capable of invading tissue
Agent of amebic dysentery
Entamoeba histolytica
Intestinal amebiasis
Non-dysenteric colitis or Amebic dysentery
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba histolytica rarely leaves the GI tract but… if it does… Extra-intestinal amebiasis… most frequent location?
Hepatic: Most frequent; right lobe of liver
Pulmonary
Brain: CNS
Other organs: Spleen, kidneys, etc.
Ulceration: Penetration of the mucosal crypts; extension into submucosa forming flask-shaped lesions
Entamoeba histolytica
flask-shaped lesions
Entamoeba histolytica
Amebomas (amebic granulomas): Granulation tissues; tumors
Entamoeba histolytica
Non-pathogenic forms of Entamoeba histolytica often will be named?
E. dispar
Infective and diagnostic stage for Entamoeba histolytica?
Cysts/trophozoites passed in feces…
Mature cysts ingested
Entamoeba histolytica Specimens of choice?
Feces and biopsies
Special process for e. histolytica specimen processing?
Collect three specimens: One every other day
Avoid contact with water or urine
Liquid stools: Examine within 30 minutes
Perform direct examination in physiological saline and Lugol’s iodine
Perform concentration technique
Charcot-Leyden crystals: Formed from the breakdown of eosinophilic blood cells; indication of bleeding or inflammation of the intestinal mucosa
Entamoeba histolytica
Cyst form has four nuclei?
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoite description?
Occasional RBC inclusion
Centrally-located endosome
“bullseye”
Worldwide distribution, but mostly in tropical areas with poor sanitation
Acquired through ingesting the quadrinucleate cyst on contaminated food or water.
Causes amoebic dysentery. 10% extraintestinal invasion to liver, lungs, brain.
Causes flask shaped ulcers
Trophozoites often contain ingested RBCs (diagnostic), but need molecular testing to be sure.
E. histolytica
Often confused with Entamoeba histolytica
Nonpathogenic
Entamoeba coli
The significance of recovering nonpathogenic intestinal protozoa is:
They are easily confused and misidentified as the pathogenic species
They indicate that there has been a breakdown in the hygienic and sanitary environment of the host.
Karyosome: Small (larger than Entamoeba histolytica); usually eccentric?
Entamoeba coli
Mature cysts of ____ characteristically have eight nuclei, rarely 16.
Entamoeba coli
Nonpathogenic commensal.
Worldwide distribution
Cysts will have 5 or more nuclei with eccentric endosome.
An indicator of poor hygiene
Entamoeba coli
Disease: Giardiasis
Giardia lamblia
Giardia: Large numbers of parasites attached to the intestinal mucosa: Block absorption of?
Fat
Fat soluble vitamins… primarily Vit. A
INfective and diagnostic stage of giardia?
Cysts
Habitat: Small intestine
Reservoir hosts: Beavers, small mammals, herbivores
Giardia lamblia
Mature quadrinucleated cyst?
Besides e. histolytica…
Giardia lamblia
Most common US pathogen?
Giardia lamblia
For giardia, Several stools may be necessary, cysts often passed on a cyclical basis
You can also use what other test?
Enterotest capsule, helpful in recovering organisms from the duodenum
“wry little face“
Trophozoite form of Giardia lamblia
8 flagella?
Giardia lamblia
Worldwide distribution, common in daycare centers and institutionalized populations.
Causes blunting of small intestinal villi and malabsorption, often of fats.
Symptoms of persistent diarrhea, gas, greasy stools, can become chronic or carriers.
Irregular patterns of cysts and trophs in stool samples, but are diagnostic. Molecular methods are available (PCR, antigen)
G. lamblia
Habitat: Genitourinary tract
Mode of infection: Sexual contact
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas vaginalis in females? Males?
In females: Vaginitis, pruritus, strawberry cervix
In males: Urethritis, prostatovesiculitis
strawberry cervix
Trichomonas vaginalis
Trichomonas vaginalis Specimen source?
Vaginal and urethral discharges, prostatic exudates
Pathogenicity: Considered nonpathogenic but often recovered from diarrheic stools
Habitat: Colon
Mode of infection: Ingestion, direct contact/sexual contact (prominent in homosexual communities)
Pentatrichomonas hominis
Pathogenicity: Considered to be nonpathogenic in the mouth (reported thoracic abscesses and respiratory infections)
Habitat: Mouth
Mode of infection: Direct contact
Trichomonas tenax
Specimen source: Gingival scrapings
Trichomonas tenax
Worldwide distribution, humans only
T. vaginalis is pathogenic, the other two are easily confused commensals.
Acquired through sexual intercourse or passed to infants during birth.
T. vaginalis causes itching, petechial hemorrhaging, discharge (strawberry cervix)
Often asymptomatic in men
Increased risk of HIV passing or infection
Diagnosis: No cyst, 4 anterior flagella with half body undulating membrane
Trichomonas