MIDTERM: COCCIDIANS Flashcards
Phylum Apicomplexa (The coccidian parasites are
the LARGEST GROUP of apicomplexan protozoa falling under Class Conoidasida.)
Spore forming, microscopic, single-celled parasites
(withstand extreme conditions of starvation, acidity,
temperature, and desiccation by producing resistant
forms called “spores.”)
OBLIGATE INTRACELLULAR (which means they strictly need host cell in order to reproduce)
Intracellular parasites are microparasites that are
capable of growing and reproducing inside the
cells of a host.
Order Eucoccidiorida Suborder
Eimeriorina
COCCIDIANS
MEMBERS
- Cystoisospora
- Cyclospora
- Cryptosporidium
- Toxoplasma
- Sarcocystis
ALL MEMBERS OF COCCIDIANS ARE HOST SPECIFIC EXCEPT for?
Toxoplasma gondii
3 sequential stages:
SPOROGONY
SCHIZOGONY/MEROGONY
GAMETOGONY
produces oocysts containing trophozoite
Sexual or Sporogony
production of merozoites (meronts)
Asexual or Schizogony or Merogony
Development of micro (male), macro (female)
gametocytes (gamonts)
Gametogony
a dormant stage of protozoa which facilitates the
survival during unfavourable environmental conditions
CYST
reproductive cell): Present in the life cycle of protozoa which contains a zygote within it. A reproductive structure that is formed by a protozoa to aid in transmission to a new host.
OOCYST
a nucleated and long asexual stage of coccidians.
MEROZOITES (MERONTS)
motile, spore-like stage in the life cycle of
a protozoan
SPOROZOITES
activated, feeding stage in the life cycle of
protozoan parasite
TROPHOZOITES
a cell that divides by schizogony to form daughter
cells; multinucleate sporozoan that reproduces by schizogony.
SCHIZONT
all stages of development completed in
gastrointestinal tract
found mainly in humans
causes CRYPTOSPORIDOSIS
oocysts found in the human and animal feces
attach to epithelial cells:
- outside cytoplasm (within brush
borders)
- located intracellular but
extracytoplasmic
Mode of transmission: WATERBORNE (common)
Cryptosporidium hominis
Only specie that infect mammals is the __________
MOT: zoonotic and anthroponotic
Cryptosporidium parvum
roundish (4 to 6 Um)
contains 4 sporozoites present in feces
o Turns to small trophozoite then divided
by schizogony producing merozoites
(micro and macrogamete)
Cryptosporidium hominis OOCYST
Cryptosporidium hominis OOCYST Merozoite type 1 contains how many nuclei?
8
Cryptosporidium hominis OOCYST Merozoite type 2 contains how many nuclei?
4
o Burst inside the small intestine and releases
sporozoite
o INTERNAL AUTOINFECTION
Cryptosporidium hominis OOCYST THIN - WALLED
o 1-6 dark granules may be viable
o Passed in the feces
o EXTERNAL AUTOINFECTION
Cryptosporidium hominis OOCYST THICK - WALLED
INFECTIVE STAGE OF Cryptosporidium hominis
OOCYST
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
SELF - LIMITED DIARRHEA lasting for 2 to 3
weeks
Other manifestation: abdominal pain, anorexia, fever, nausea, and weight loss
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS on Immunocompetent Host
CLINICAL MANIFESTATION
MORE SEVERE DIARRHEA, progressive and may become life threatening
Acute and Gangrenous cholecystitis
Dyspnea, chronic cough, bronchiolitis, pneumonia
Blunted intestinal Villi: malabsorption and excessive fluid loss
CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS on Immunocompromised Host
Commonly used technique to detect oocyst in Cryptosporidium hominis
A. Acid-fast staining
B. Sheather’s sugar flotation
C. Kinyoun’s modified acid fast stain
D. Formalin ether/acetyl concentration test (FECT)
B & D
- Sheather’s sugar flotation
- Formalin ether/acetyl concentration test (FECT)
Cryptosporidium hominis DIAGNOSIS
- Routinely used with the oocysts (appear as RED PINK)
- appearing red-pink doughnut-shaped circular
organisms in blue background
A. Acid-fast staining
B. Sheather’s sugar flotation
C. Kinyoun’s modified acid fast stain
D. Formalin ether/acetyl concentration test (FECT)
C. Kinyoun’s modified acid fast stain
Cryptosporidium hominis DIAGNOSIS
- probably the quickest and cheapest method of diagnosis
A. Acid-fast staining
B. Sheather’s sugar flotation
C. Kinyoun’s modified acid fast stain
D. Formalin ether/acetyl concentration test (FECT)
A Acid-fast staining
Cryptosporidium hominis treatment that is reported effective in preliminary/clinical trials
Nitazoxanide
Used to treat severe diarrhea
o Bovine colostrum
o Paromomycin
o Clarithromycin
* Azithromycin
Causes CYCLOSPORIASIS
originally called a CYANOBACTERIUM-LIKE body (CLB)
Showed organelle that undergoes photosynthesis
and autofluorescence.
Acid-fast variable resembling “wrinkled
cellophane-unstained”
invades the epithelial cells of the small intestines
o site of predilection: jejunum
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Ingestion of sporulated
oocyst
Cyclospora cayetanensis
7 – 10 um in diameter
Ingestion, contains two sporocysts with two
sporozoites each then invades the small intestine
Multiple fissions of these sporozoites take place
inside the cells to produce meronts
Cyclospora cayetanensis OOCYTS
Cyclospora cayetanensis OOCYST First generation contains how many merozoites?
8 - 12
Cyclospora cayetanensis OOCYST second generation contains how many merozoites?
only 4
infective stage of Cyclospora cayetanensis
Cyclospora cayetanensis SPORULATED OOCYST/OOCYTE
Cyclospora cayetanensis OOCYST undergo complete sporulation within ____ days in a _____ environment.
7 to 12 , warm
malaise, low grade fever (12-24 hours
post exposure)
Initial Symptoms