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Step 1 - Microbiology > Parasites > Flashcards

Parasites Flashcards

1
Q

Giardia lamblia

A
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2
Q

Toxoplasma gondii

A
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3
Q

Classic presentation of neonate with Congenital Toxoplasmosis:

A
  1. Chorioretinitis
  2. Intracranial calcifications
  3. Hydrocephalus
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4
Q

Name that propylactic drug: AIDS patient who lives with 3 cats

A

TMP-SMX
* To prevent Toxoplasma infection in AIDS patients
* May also be used as a 2nd line therapy for other patients (after pyrimethamine + sulfadiazine)

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5
Q

How does Toxoplasma present in immunocompetent, healthy patients?

A

As a “mononucleosis-like” infection
* headache, fever
* pharyngitis
* hepatosplemomegaly
* negative heterophile Ab/monospot test

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6
Q

Entamoeba histolytica

A
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7
Q

Cryptosporidium

A
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8
Q

Why does Entamoeba histolytica infection result in a bloody stool?

A

Trophozoite invasion of the intestinal mucosa

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9
Q

Crazy Entamoeba histolytica presentation aspects:

A
  • Liver abscess with anchovy paste
  • Colonoscopy with flask-shaped colonic ulcers
  • Stoop O&P - trophozoites have engulfed RBCs
  • bloody diarrhea
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10
Q

Cryptosporidium

A
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11
Q

First-line Rx for cryptosporidium infection?

A

Nitazoxanide

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12
Q

Naegleria fowleri

A
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13
Q

Naegleria fowleri - Dx

A

Amoebas in CSF
* Rapidly fatal meningoencephalitis

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14
Q

Trypanosoma brucei

A
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15
Q

Which parasite causes “African sleeping sickness” (daytime somnolescence)?

A

Trypanosoma brucei
* Vector = Tsetse fly

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16
Q

Plasmodium (overview)

A
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17
Q

Which plasmodium species produce hypnozoites?

A
  • P. vivax
  • P. ovale

Primaquine required to treat these types of malaria by killing hypnozoites

Hypnozoites = Dormant form

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18
Q

Blood smears with ring-shaped parasites visualized is diagnostic of which infection?

A

Malaria
* Plasmodium’s ring-shaped trophozoites
* Giemsa staining

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19
Q

What causes the cyclical fevers in malaria?

A

RBC lysis every 2-3 days
* schedule seen in most malarial diseases

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20
Q

Plasmodium species with 48 hour life cycles:

A
  1. P. falciparum
  2. P. vivax
  3. P. ovale

Anopheles mosquito

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21
Q

Plasmodium species with 72 hour life cycles:

A
  1. P. malariae

Anopheles mosquito

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22
Q

High yield plasmodium presentation:

A
  1. Relapsing fevers
  2. Splenomegaly
  3. Hemolysis – Anemia, jaundice
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23
Q

How to distinguish Babesia and Plasmodium:

A

Both show ring-shaped inclusions in RBCs on peripheral smear but needs to be differentiated clinically:
* Plasmodium - cyclical fevers
* Babesia - no cyclical fever

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24
Q

Malaria (plasmodium disease)

25
Q

Babesia

26
Q

Common co-infection spread by the Ixodes tick (NE USA):

A
  • Babesia
  • Borrelia burgdorferi
27
Q

Name that parasite: ring-shaped or maltese cross inclusions in RBCs

28
Q

Babesia Rx combo:

A
  • Atovaquone
  • Azithromycin (macrolide)
29
Q

Trypanosoma cruzi

Kissing bug disease.

30
Q

Name that parasite: Patient presenting with cardiac abnormalities (arrhythmias, heart failure), achalasia (trouble swallowing), and megacolon

A

T. cruzi - Chagas disease
1. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
2. Megaesophagus - difficulty swallowing
3. Megacolon

Rx
* Benznidazole
* Nifurtimox

All patients with Chagas Disease are screened for cardiac abnormalities, even if they appear to be asymptomatic

31
Q

Leishmania

  • Vector = the sandfly
  • Kala azar
  • Infects macrophages
32
Q

Name that parasite: Patient who returned from the Middle East, presenting with suddenly darkened skin, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and pancytopenia (bone marrow failure), and painless ulcers:

A

Leishmania
* (Disease = Leishmaniasis)
* Visceral & cutaneous disease presentations

33
Q

Amastigotes - blood smear

Leishmania infecting macrophages

34
Q

Main Rx for Leishmania

A
  • Amphotericin B
  • Stibogluconate
35
Q

Trichomonas vaginalis

36
Q

Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)

  • Scotch-tape test
  • Stool O&P is not effective
37
Q

Ascaris lumbricoides (giant roundworm)

38
Q

Stronglyoides stercoralis (threadworm)

39
Q

Where in the GI tract does Ascaris lumbricoides famously obstruct?

A

At the ileocecal valve.

40
Q

Name that parasite: Patient that walks barefoot in Thailand parks who is coughing with bloody sputum, experiencing GI symptoms, has raised pruritic skin streaks along the lower extremities, and shows rhabditiform larvae on O&P stool microscopy:

A

Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm)

41
Q

Rx for Strongyloides stercoralis (threadworm)

A

Ivermectin

42
Q

Ancylostoma & Necator (Hookworm)

  • Serpiginous tracks
  • Anemia
  • Barefoot walkers
43
Q

Rx for hookworm infections (ancylostoma & necator):

A
  1. Bendazoles
  2. Pyrantel pamoate (pregnant patients)
44
Q

Trichinella spiralis

  • Muscle biopsy can be diagnostic (larvae detected)
45
Q

Name that bug: Young woman presenting with yellow-green discharge and strawberry cervix:

A

Trichomonas vaginalis

46
Q

Name that bug: Patient who just ingested undercooked pork roast and is experiencing GI symptoms, myositis (muscle pain), and periorbital edema (swelling around the eyes):

A

Trichinella spiralis
* Larvae can bet detected upon muscle biopsy
* Rx = Bendazoles

47
Q

Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)

48
Q

Name that bug: Child with rectal prolapse, impaired growth/cognition, & diarrhea with a resulting microcytic anemia:

A

Trichuris trichiura (whipworm)

49
Q

Toxocara canis

50
Q

Onchocerca volvulus

  • One of the leading causes of blindness worldwide – uveitis, optic atrophy, & keratitis
  • “River blindness”
51
Q

Loa loa

  • Eye worm
  • Rx = DEC
52
Q

Wuchereria bancrofti

Lymphatic filariasis (elephantitis)

53
Q

Taenia solium

54
Q

Diphyllobothrium latum

55
Q

Echinococcus granulosus

  • The “dog tapeworm”
  • Liver: hydatid cyst decades after initial infection
56
Q

Schistosoma

57
Q

Clonorchis sinensis

58
Q

Scabies (Sarcoptes scabei)

59
Q

Rx for neurocysticercosis:

A
  • Praziquantel
  • Albendazole

Step 1 - Microbiology (10 decks)

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