Parasites Flashcards
definitive host
the host in which the parasite reaches SEXUAL MATURITY (usually where gametocytes fuse and form a complete zygote)
intermediate host
a host that is required for parasite development but in which the parasite does NOT reach sexual maturity
malaria - definitive and intermediate hosts
definitive = mosquito
intermediate = humans
schistosoma - definitive and intermediate hosts
definitive = human
intermediate = snail
“dead end” or accidental host
when a helminth that usually infects another animal attempts to invade or infect a human but cannot complete the necessary stage of its lifecycle (not the correct host)
when is eosinophilia seen with parasitic infections
ONLY in TISSUE INVASIVE or migratory portions of the parasite’s life cycle
do you see eosinophilia with protozoal infections
NO
do you see eosinophilia with adult worms in the intestinal lumen
NO
are parasites prokaryotes or eukaryotes
EUKARYOTES
*can be one-celled or multi-cellular
protozoa
simple, unicellular parasites
*can be in blood, tissue, gut, and/or genital system
helminths
multicellular, complex organisms
(worms)
*covered by a cuticle or tegument that protects them from digestion and environmental stresses
do you have eosinophilia with malaria
NO
entamoeba - 2 species
1) entamoeba histolytica (pathogenic)
2) entamoeba dispar (non-pathogenic)
entamoeba histolytica - transmission
fecal-oral (through contaminated food and water)
person-to-person spread may occur
entamoeba histolytica - 2 forms
- trophozoite
- cyst
entamoeba histolytica - life cycle
- ingest cysts
- cysts transform to trophozoite upon exposure to stomach acid
- trophozoites colonize and subsequently invade intestinal mucosa
- invasion causes COLITIS
- some of the trophozoites transform into infective cysts and are released in stool, allowing for spread
entamoeba histolytica - disease
DYSENTERY (bloody, mucous-y diarrhea)
complications = liver abscesses and intestinal perforation
entamoeba histolytica - virulence factors
- galactosamine adherence lectin
- proteinases
- lysis of WBCs
entamoeba histolytica - 3 stages for infection
- attachment to host mucosal colonic epithelium through receptors
- contact-dependent killing
- ingestion of the killed host cell
entamoeba histolytica - host defense
cell-mediated immunity (T cells)
giardia lamblia - transmission
WATER, predominantly
giardia lamblia - epidemiology/risks
WATER
examples:
1) backpackers drinking from a stream
2) go to water park and swallow a lot of water
3) daycare
giardia lamblia - life cycle
- ingest cysts
- cysts transform to trophozoite upon exposure to stomach acid
- trophozoites colonize and subsequently ATTACH TO SMALL INTESTINAL VILLI
- some of the trophozoites transform into infective cysts and are released in stool, allowing for spread
compare and contrast - giardia vs. amoeba
*amoeba goes to COLON and invades; causes dysentery
*giardia goes to small intestine and attaches to villi; causes watery diarrhea
giardia lamblia - host defense
IgA immunoglobulin
(so IgA deficiency people are at high risk)
giardia lamblia - disease
WATERY diarrhea