Introduction to Parasites Flashcards
What are the three classes of parasites?
Protozoa, helminths and arthropods
Describe the structure of protozoa
Single celled organisms
What is the mode of protozoa transmission?
Intestinal parasites - fecal - oral route
Blood parasites - arthropod vector
What is the species responsible for malaria?
Plasmodium falciparum
What is the vector for malaria?
Anopheles mosquito
What is the life cycle of malaria?
Injected under skin by mosquito
Travel through blood and enter liver
Mature in liver and re-enter circulation
Invade red cells, multiply and lyse cells
What is the diagnosis of amoebic dysentery?
Cysts in stool - microscopy
Diarrhoea with blood and pus
What type of disease is Amoebic Dysentery responsible for?
Intestinal and extra-intestinal infections (Liver abscess)
What infection is caused by the bite of sandflies?
Leishmaniasis
What is cutaneous or muco-cutaneous leishmaniasis characterised by?
Skin or mucosal ulceration
What are symptoms of Viceral leishmaniasis?
Fever
weight loss
hepato-splenomegaly (liver and spleen swell)
How is diagnosis of leishmaniasis achieved?
Histology of biopsy material
What are the different types of helminths?
Nematodes, Cestodes, Trematodes
What are Nematodes?
Round worms
What are Cestodes
Tapeworms