Nematodes Flashcards
What is one of the clinical indicators of all nematode infections?
Eosinophilia
Is the worm burden high or low in most patients?
Usually low
What nematode lives as long as the host?
Strongyloides stercoralis
What are the tissue dwelling nematodes?
Lymphatic filariasis - Brugia malayi, Wuchereria bancrofti
Onchocerciasis - Onchocerca volvulus
Loaiasis - Loa Ioa
What are the GI nematodes?
Pinworm - Enterobius vermicularis
Hookworm - Ancylostoma duodenale or Necator americanus
Ascaris - Ascaris lumbricoides
Whipworm - Trichuris trichiura
Strongylodiasis - Strongyloides stercoralis
Trichinosis - Trichinella spiralis (pork)
Toxocariasis - Toxocara canis and T. cati (dogs and cats)
What are the drugs used to treat nematode infections?
Albendazole Mebendazole Ivermectin Piperzine Pyrantel pamoate Diethylcarbamazine
What is unique about the mechanism of action of nematode drugs?
Don’t kill the worm, just paralyzes it. Allows immune system to catch up to it and kill
What are commonalities between all nematode life cycles?
4 larval stages
Male and female adults
Either produce embryos or produce live larval forms (into the environment)
What form are nematodes transmitted as?
Embryo (mostly GI) L1 larvae (mostly filarial)
Which stage of the nematode life cycle is the infectious stage (for humans)?
L3 larval
What is the organism that causes pinworm?
Enterobius vermicularis
What is the life cycle of pinworm?
Embryos ingested
Larvae hatch in small intestine
Adults in lumen of cecum
Sticky eggs laid in perianal region by female pinworm at night
What environment are pinworm infections common?
Day care centers
Children itch and eggs stick to fingers, spread easily
What are symptoms of pinworm?
Itching around perianal area
Distrubed sleep, irritability, restlessness
Loss of appetite
How is diagnosis of pinworm made?
“scotch tape test” or “pinworm paddle” - see cluster of eggs on adhesive tape
test done at morning when there are most eggs
What are the organisms that cause hookworm?
Ancylostoma duodenale
Necator americanus
What is the life cycle of hookworm?
Eggs hatch in environment
Larvae penetrate skin (usually through bare feet)
Migrate to lungs, through respiratory tract to mouth, swallowed, goes to small intestine
Larvae develop into adults worms attached to intestinal wall
Female produces thousands of eggs a day, excreted
How do hookworms get their nutrition?
Have chitinous teeth
Allow them to disrupt capillary bed and get blood
What environment are hookworm infections common in?
Tropical and subtropical climates
Anywhere that has a freeze will kill the larvae in the environment
Can hookworm be spread person to person?
No, requires development of larvae in soil
In what population of people do you see highest parasite burden of hookworm?
Older individuals
Hookworm burden increases with age
What are the symptoms of hookworm infection?
- Itching and rash and larval penetration site
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, tiredness, difficulty breathing
- Anemia and protein deficiency caused by blood loss (can retard growth and mental development in children)
What is the largest nematode parasite?
Ascaris
What is the life cycle of ascaris?
Ingest eggs from environment or water
Eggs hatch in lower intestine
Larvae migrate to lungs (via liver), ascend into throat, swallowed, descend into small intestine again
Develop into adults, release eggs