Leishmania Flashcards
Hemoflagellate
Single-celled parasite that moves by means of tail-like extensions that RESIDES IN BLOOD AND TISSUE
Parasitemia
Infection in the blood
Kinetoplast
Specialized region of the mitochondria that contains DNA
Blepharoplast
Microtubule-based organelle that assemblies cilia and flagella
Where are hemoflagellate parasites located?
Blood and tissue
True or false:
Transmission is vector borne
True
What are the 4 forms of Hemoflagellate morphology?
- Amastigote
- Promastigote
- Epimastigote
- Trypomastigote
Where are amastigotes typically found in humans?
Tissue, muscle, and CNS
Where are trypomastigotes typically found in humans?
Peripheral blood.
What are the morphologic forms of Hemoflagellates based on?
- Shape
- Presence/absence of a flagellum
- Presence and length of undulating membrane
What do you sample for a labaratory diagnosis of Hemoflagellate infection?
Peripheral blood, lymph node and ulcer aspirations, tissue bioposies, bone marrow, CSF
What are the symptoms of Leishmania?
- small red papule at bite site
- itching
- fever
- diarrhea
- death
True or False:
The life cycle of Leishmania involves a mammalian host and an arthropod host.
True
What arthropod is responsible for Leishmania?
Sand fly
Where can Leishmania parasites be found?
Macrophages and other phagocytic cells in tissues.