Lecture 12 3/21/24

Question 1

What are the general characteristics of mucosoflagellates?

Answer 1

-live in intimate association with a mucus membrane
-pyriform shape
-4 to 8 flagella
-axostyle present

Question 2

What are the characteristics of giardia?

Answer 2

-DH includes people and many domestic and wild animals
-each animal species has its own giardia species
-live in the small bowel

Question 3

What are the two stages of the giardia life cycle?

Answer 3

-trophozoite
-cyst

Question 4

What are the characteristics of the giardia trophozoite?

Answer 4

-2 nuclei
-4 pairs of flagella
-2 axostyles
-stage that attaches to mucosa and causes clinical signs
-motile, but not infectious

Question 5

What are the characteristics of the giardia cyst?

Answer 5

-4 nuclei
-infective stage
-infectious as soon as it is excreted in environment

Question 6

What is the pre-patent period for giardia?

Answer 6

5-12 days

Question 7

How is giardia transmitted?

Answer 7

ingestion of cysts via water, food, fomites, or self-grooming following fecal contamination

Question 8

What are the clinical signs associated with giardia?

Answer 8

-acute or chronic non-bloody diarrhea
-malabsorptive symptoms
-flatulence
-greasy, malodorous, light-colored, soft stools
-mucus
-copious stools
-possible vomiting

Question 9

Which clinical signs align with small bowel infection?

Answer 9

-maldigestion
-malabsorption
-hypermotility
-diarrhea
-no hemorrhage or melena

Question 10

How is giardia diagnosed in dogs?

Answer 10

-direct smear
-flotation
-antigen test
-IFA

Question 11

What control measures can be taken with giardia?

Answer 11

-treat all members of household
-bath animals to remove fecal debris and cysts
-clean feces daily
-disinfect contaminated areas
-eliminated standing water/moist areas
-steam cleaning
-allow time for thorough drying after cleaning
-prevent fecal contamination of feed/water

Question 12

How do most humans acquire giardia infections?

Answer 12

from other humans

Question 13

What are the characteristics of Trichomonads?

Answer 13

-DH includes nearly all animals
-trophozoites only
-3 to 5 flagella
-1 nucleus
-1 axostyle
-undulating membrane

Question 14

Why can Trichomonads not be diagnosed via fecal float?

Answer 14

they do not form a true cyst

Question 15

What are the characteristics of Tritrichomonas foetus?

Answer 15

-DH is cattle
-causes bovine genital trichomoniasis
-causes veneral disease

Question 16

What clinical signs are seen with Tritrichomonas foetus?

Answer 16

-infertility
-abortion
-pyometra
-no signs in bulls/silent carriers

Question 17

How is Tritrichomonas foetus diagnosed?

Answer 17

-culture of cervical mucus or uterine fluid for cows
-culture of penis/prepuce wash or scrape in bulls
-PCR following culture to confirm
-assume whole herd is exposed if a bull tests positive

Question 18

What treatment is available for Tritrichomonas foetus?

Answer 18

no treatment

Question 19

What control/prevention measures are taken with Tritrichomonas foetus?

Answer 19

-care in vaginal examinations
-keep a closed herd and test new animals
-cull bulls that test positive; vaccinate all cows
-artificial insemination over natural
-sexual rest for 6 mo. will clear infection
-no immunity from infection; can be reinfected

Question 20

What are the characteristics of Tritrichomonas blagburni?

Answer 20

-DH is cat
-PPP of around 15 days
-intestinal disease
-trophozoites found in cecum, colon, ileum, feces
-causes diarrhea

Question 21

What is the infective stage of Tritrichomonas blagburni?

Answer 21

trophozoite

Question 22

What are the clinical signs of Tritrichomonas blagburni?

Answer 22

-chronic diarrhea
-mucus and/or blood in feces
-fecal incontinence/fecal dribbling
-malodorous feces
-flatulence
-lethargy/anorexia/weight loss

Question 23

Which parasite is Tritrichomonas blagburni often misdiagnosed as?

Answer 23

giardia

Question 24

How is Tritrichomonas blagburni diagnosed?

Answer 24

-direct fecal smear to observe trophozoites
-culture and PCR

Question 25

What are the characteristics of Tritrichomonas blagburni treatment?

Answer 25

-no approved treatment
-most cats have spontaneous resolution of diarrhea, but can take up to 2 years
-Ronidazole often used as treatment

Question 26

What are the characteristics of Trichomonas gallinae?

Answer 26

-avian trichomonosis
-bird specific
-pigeons are natural host
-oral and liver lesions
-major disease for wild birds

Question 27

What are the control measures taken for Trichomonas gallinae?

Answer 27

-keep bird feeders clean and dry: can survive in water baths for at least 24 hrs
-clean feeders and waterers with 10% bleach following outbreak; do not feed for 2 weeks

Question 28

What are the characteristics of Histomonas meleagridis?

Answer 28

-two forms depending on site of infection
-flagellated form in cecum
-amoeboid form in liver
-undergo binary fission
-disease outbreaks in turkeys
-no approved treatment

Question 29

How do histomonosis lesions appear?

Answer 29

ceca: inflammation, ulcers, hemorrhage, necrotic cores
liver: multiple areas of necrosis, hemorrhage, fibrosis

Question 30

What are the characteristics of Histomonas transmission?

Answer 30

-Heterakis gallinarum (cecal nematode) can act as vector; parasite transmitted within eggs
-earthworms and arthropods can serve as transport hosts