Kinetoplastids

Question 1

What is this?

Answer 1

Trypanosoma brucei spp

(African sleeping sickness)

(2 types indistinguishable under microscope)

• pleomorphic
• small kinetoplast located at the posterior end with a
  centrally placed nucleus
• a free flagellum leaves the body at the anterior end

Question 2

What is this?

Answer 2

Trypanosoma brucei spp

(African sleeping sickness)

(2 types indistinguishable under microscope)

• pleomorphic
• small kinetoplast located at the posterior end with a
  centrally placed nucleus
• a free flagellum leaves the body at the anterior end

Question 3

What is this?

Answer 3

Trypanosoma cruzi
(Chagas disease)

• Large kinetoplast
• Generally Monomorphic

Question 4

What are these?

Answer 4

Trypanosoma brucei spp

(African sleeping sickness)

(2 types indistinguishable under microscope)

• Small kinetoplast.
• Pleomorphic.
• Dividing forms seen in the circulating in blood

Question 5

What are the 2 main forms of leishmaniasis?

Answer 5

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (oriental sore) and Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala azar)

Question 6

What is the vector for leishmaniasis?

Answer 6

phlebotomine sandfly

Question 7

Where does leishmaniasis occur?

Answer 7

Question 8

What are the laboratory methods of diagnosing Leishmaniasis?

Answer 8

• Biopsy edge of ulcer
• Impression smear
• Histology
• PCR
• Culture
• Blood tests that detect antibody (an immune response) to the parasite can be helpful for cases
  of visceral leishmaniasis.

Question 9

What is this?

Answer 9

Amastigotes of Leishmania

• spherical to ovoid
• measure 1-5 μm by 1-2 μm

Question 10

What are the main features of visceral leishmaniasis?

Answer 10

• fever, weight loss, hepatosplenomegaly
• pancytopenia
• possible lymphadenopathy

Caused by L. donovani and L. infantum

Question 11

What is seen here?

Answer 11

Leishmania amastigotes

Question 12

Which types of leishmania commonly cause Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala Azar)

Answer 12

L. Donovani
L. Infantum

Question 13

What are these?

Answer 13

Leishmania amastigotes

Question 14

What 2 main medications are approved to treat Leishmaniasis?

Answer 14

• IV liposomal amphotericin B (for severe / visceral disease)
• PO miltefosine

NB: for cutaneous Leishmaniasis - cryotherapy, intralesions pentavalent antimony, and curetage

miltefosine is contraindicated in pregnancy

Question 15

What is the vector for Chagas, African sleeping sickness, and Leishmania respectively?

Answer 15

• Assassin/Kissing bug (reduvid)
• Tsetse flies
• Sandflies