Micro parasitic infections of GI Flashcards
who does giardiasis infect?
beavers, raccoons
high risk = infants, young children, international adoptees, travelers, immunocompromised, hypochlorhydria or cystic fibrosis
describe the life cycle of giardia
cysts are the infectious form (survive in moist environments for prolonged periods) –> transmitted via water, food, fecal-oral –> ingestion of 10-25 cysts leads to giardiasis –> following ingestion, excystation occurs in proximal small bowel with release of trophozoites
what are the clinical manisfestations of giardia?
50-65% asymptomatic.
35-45% symptomatic with prolonged duration of diarrhea, weight loss 10 pounds, malaise, abdominal cramps/bloating, FLATULENCE, nausea, STEATORRHEA
what is the incubation period of giardiasis?
1-2 weeks
what is giardia?
protozoal parasite (single celled organism)
what are the symptoms of chronic giardiasis?
loos stools (not diarrhea), steatorrhea, profound weight loss, malabsorption, malaise, abdominal cramping, borborygmi, flatulence, burping, fatigue, depression (basically same but wax and waning of symptoms)
diagnosis of giardia
stool examination for ova and parasites looking for trophozoites or cysts
ALSO detection of giardia specific antigen (GSA-65) through ELISA or immunochromatic assays
treatment of giardiasis
tinidazole (like metronidazole)
what is cryptosporidiosis?
an intracellular protozoan parasite that is associated with self-limited diarrhea in immunocompetent hosts, persistent diarrhea in children in developing countries, and chronic diarrhea in immunocompromised
what is cryptosporidiosis associated with?
unfiltered well water
how does transmission of cryptosporidium occur?
fecally passed oocysts (immediately infectious)
although mainly through contact with contaminated water (through run off of manure especially - also swimming pools)
what are cryptosprodium oocytes resistant to?
chlorine
clinical manifestations of cryptosporidium
incubation 7-10 days - can have asymptomatic, mild diarrhea, or severe enteritis
diarrhea as associated malaise, nausea, anorexia, crampy abdominal pain, low fever
cryptosporidium treatment
usually resolves without therapy in 10-14 days - difficult to treat if becomes chronic
cryptosporidiosis diagnosis
microscopy or enzyme immunoasays - may be present in stool, duodenal aspirates, bile secretions
what does entamoeba histolytica cause?
intestinal amebiasis - usually asymptomatic but can cause amebic dysentery and extraintestinal disease (amebic liver abscess)
what are the forms of entamoeba histolytica
single celled protazoa with two forms: cyst stage (infective) and trophozoite (invasive disease)
entamoeba histolytica ID
one cysts is sufficient to cause disease
clinical manisfestations of entamoeba histolytica. what are they due to?
tissue destruction (abdominal pain) , increased intestinal secretion, bloody diarrhea due to trophozoites invading and penetrating the mucous barrier of the colon
entamoeba histolytica transmission
ingestion of amebic cysts via contaminated food or water also associated with venereal transmission via fecal-oral