parasite to dx Flashcards
Giardia lamblia
- Examination of stool for cysts or trophozoties,
* Immunoassay to detect Giardia lamblia ags in aqueous extracts of stool samples.
Entamoeba histolytica
- Look at the stool for trophozoites or cysts, only the presence of trophozoties with internalized RBCs indicates active dz.
- Best option is to use ag detection tests on the stool or serum –also allow to differentiate from the non-pathogenic bug E dispar.
- Use CAT scan or US to look for liver abscesses
isospora and cyclospora
acid-fast on stool microscopy, but can also do fluorescent microscopy.
Toxoplasma gondii
- CAT scan will show contrast enhancing mass.
- Retinal examination will show retinal inflammation.
- Serology: Ab titers will indicate if there has been previous exposure.
interstitial pneumonia called pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP)
• Silver or immunofluorescent staining cultures obtained by (in increasing yield):
o Induce sputum sample by spraying saline into the bronchioles and collecting coughed material.
o Bronchoalveolar lavage: insert a camera and wash out the deep bronchial tree with saline.
o Biopsy the lung by bronchoscopy.
African sleeping sickness
microscopy of the peripheral blood, LNs, or CSF
Naegleria fowleri
- CSF: high protein, low glucose and high neutrophil count, just like a bac infection
- .g stain and culture will show no bac and microscopic examination may show motile amoeba.
chagas dis
Acute chagas’ dz:
• Direct examination of blood for the trypomastigotes.
• Xenodiagnosis: 40 lab grown reduviid bugs are placed on the skin to feed on the pt for a month and then their abdominal contents are examined.
Chronic chagas’ dz:
• Classic clinical findings (cardiac and megadisease) with serological evidence of past infection
malaria
o Examination of blood smears on oil-immersion magnification can reveal trophozoites and schizonts inside the RBCs.
o There are also rapid ag tests that can be used, but are very expensive
cutaneous leishmaniasis
skin scrapings of the ulcer base or by taking dead leishmania and placing it under the skin like PPD
mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
skin scrapings
visceral leishmaniasis kala-azar
- Liver and spleen biopsies.
- High leishmanial IgG levels.
- Leishmanin skin test is negative during the active dz since the cell mediated response is deficient.
trichomonas vaginalis
- Microscopic examination of the vaginal discharge to find a very motile parasite.
- May also find it in the urine.
acanthamoeba
CSF and brain tissue will show acanthamoeba in cyst and trophozoite stages.
balantidium coli
looking for the ciliated trophozoites or cysts in the stool
Necator americanus (hookworm) and Ancylostoma duodenale
Identify the eggs in a fresh fecal sample.
Ascaris lumbricoides
- Look for the eggs in feces or larvae in the sputum.
* There may be an increased # of eosinophils on peripheral blood smear
Strongyloides stercoralis
• Made by identifying the larvae in feces, not the eggs.
o Enterotest: long nylon string is swallowed and then brought back up later to look for the presence of larvae.
• Sputum can be examined for larvae.
• Can also do an ELIZA to look for abs.
Trichnella spiralis
- Made with serologic tests or muscle biopsy that reveal the encysted larvae.
- There will be increased amount of eosinophils.
- There may also be increased amounts of muscle enzymes like CPK
Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)
- (eosinophil ct not elevated since not live outside intestine)
- Look for the eggs in the stool.
- The eggs look like footballs with bumps on each end. (adults look like a bullwhip)
enterobius vermicularis (pinworm).
- eosinophil ct not elevated since not live outside intestine)
- Use scotch tape to pick up the eggs in the perianal region.
Onchocerca volvulus
- Look for microfilariae in skin biopsies or adult worms in a nodule.
- Can also look for the microfilariae in the cornea with a slit-lamp examination.
Wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi
- microfilariae in blood that is drawn at night since there are very few microfilariae that circulate during the day (nocturnal periodicity)
- Can also be made by looking for abs on immunofluorescence.
Cutaneous larval migrans (anclyostoma braziliense)
Biopsy of the advancing edge of the rash.