Introcution To Parasitology

Question 1

What is meant by the term parasite?

Answer 1

A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another organism and derives it’s nutrients at the expense of this host.

Question 2

How do you classify parasites?

Answer 2

Based on cellular structure and life cycle

Question 3

What are the types of parasites?

Answer 3

Protozoa
Helminths
Ectoparasites

Question 4

Describe protozoa.

Answer 4

Microscopic
Singe celled
Free living or parasitic
Can multiply in humans

Question 5

How are Protozoa transmitted?

Answer 5

Live in human intestine so the faecal oral route
And live in blood so via insect bites or needles

Question 6

What is an example of protozoan infection?

Answer 6

Malaria caused by plasmodium parasite in anopheles mosquito

Question 7

What are symptoms of malaria

Answer 7

Fever
Chills
Head ache

Question 8

How is amoebae Protozoa transmitted?

Answer 8

Faecal oral route

Question 9

What is amoebic dysentry?

Answer 9

Protozal infection
Bloody diarrhoea
Cyst in stool

Question 10

Where do Protozoa affect the most?

Answer 10

Affects all body systems but mainly the liver

Question 11

What are round worms?

Answer 11

Nematods

Question 12

What are tape worms ?

Answer 12

Cestodes

Question 13

What are flatworms?

Answer 13

Trematodes

Question 14

How do we diagonose parasitic worms?

Answer 14

We look at the eggs in the stools

Question 15

What’s a common diseases of nematodes?
What happens int he diseases?

Answer 15

Pin worms in children
Nematodes which lay eggs in the anus
Making it very itchy
Scratch and the eggs get stuck under fingernails
And enters mouth

Question 16

What are ascaris worms?

Answer 16

They are really long worms which block the intestine and gall bladder
Bowel obstruction
And require surgical removal

Question 17

What effects can tapeworms have on humans?

Answer 17

The one found in meat can cause neurocysticercosis

Cysts in the brain bits of the brain are eaten up causing seizures especially the pork ones
Can cause problems in other parts of the body

Question 18

Describe schistosomiasis

Answer 18

Acquired through swimming in infected fresh water
Where the snail intermediary host is present
The snail releases the parasite
Swimmers itch- red patches where the parasite buries itself into the skin
Can lead to liver failure and bladder cancer.

Question 19

What are ectoparasites?

Answer 19

Parasites which live outside the body

Question 20

What methods can we use to diagnose malaria?

Answer 20

Do a blood smear test
Find plasmodium in the blood
Sing the species and the number of RBCs affected to show the severity of illness

Question 21

What methods can we use for enteric parasites?

Answer 21

Stool sample
Look for eggs, cysts and parasites themselves

Question 22

How can we diagnose helminth infections?

Answer 22

High levels of eosinophils
Or high levels of IgE

Question 23

What is indirect testing?

Answer 23

Serology and rapid testing for parasites
To test for antigens and parts of the parasite

Question 24

How to test for malaria?

Answer 24

Parasitaemia
Special stain blood film for red blood cells

Question 25

How to raise awareness of malaria?

Answer 25

A awareness
B bite prevention
C chemoprophalixas
D diagnosis

Question 26

What’s an example of nematode?

Answer 26

Pinworm

Question 27

What’s the difference between thick and thin blood film testing?

Answer 27

Thick blood filaments have a larger sample of blood hence it’s easier to see parasites