Parasites Flashcards
What are the 3 protozoa of the intestinal tract?
Giardia lamblia
Entamoeba histolytica
Cryptosporidium
Mode of transmission for Giardia lamblia
Fecal-oral transmission of CYSTS
[Consuming water contaminated by animal/human feces in endemic areas; often associated with camping/traveling/hiking and not adequately purifying water before drinking it]
Clinical manifestations of Giardia lamblia
Bloating
Flatulence
Foul-smelling diarrhea (steatorrhea!)
Weight loss and potential ADEK vitamin deficiencies d/t malabsorption
Morphologic features and dx of Giardia lamblia
Distinct trophozoite shape with flagella
Dx by stool sample, immunoassay antigen, sanitation detection
Note that invasion is required for Giardia lamblia to cause diarrhea, so trophozoites found in stool is diagnostic of this parasite
What are the 2 life cycle stages of Entamoeba histolytica?
Cyst form: infectious if ingested
Trophozoite form: invasive, causes clinical manifestations
Describe transmission of Entamoeba histolytica
Ingestion in contaminated water (fecal-oral)
Associated with men who have sex with men d/t anal-oral transmission
Clinical manifestations caused by trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica
Amoebic liver abscess affecting right lobe —> RUQ pain, hepatomegaly (abscess described as having anchovy-paste consistency)
Intestinal amoebiasis = “flask-shaped” ulcerations in colon; bloody diarrhea
Dx of Entamoeba histolytica
Stool sample — looking for cysts or trophozoites
Can also diagnose under a microscope if shown trophozoites with endocytosed RBCs; ELISA Ag test, serology, intestinal biopsy showing flask-shaped lesions in colon
Clinical manifestations of Cryptosporidium in healthy people vs. immunocompromised
Healthy: mild watery diarrhea
Immunocompromised: unrelenting watery diarrhea (note similar presentation in Isospora and Cyclospora in AIDS pts)
Transmission and pathogenesis of cryptosporidium
Fecal-oral transmission of oocyst
After ingestion, 4 motile sporozoites are released from oocyst and attach to small intestine wall causing damage and diarrhea
Dx of cryptosporidium
Stool sample for oocysts — stains acid-fast; cysts composed of 4 motile sporozoites
Small intestine biopsy
What are the 3 protozoa of the CNS?
Toxoplasma gondii
Trypanosoma brucei
Naegleria Fowleri
3 mechanisms of transmission of toxoplasma gondii
- Transplacental transfer
- Ingesting raw/undercooked pork containing cysts
- Ingesting water or undercooked veggies contaminated by animal stool (oocysts) — cat feces! - can also be inhalation
Note that pregnant women are at increased risk - should not clean litter box
Besides pregnant women, who else is at increased risk for toxoplasma gondii?
Immunocompromised (HIV pts) — CD4 < 100 and serology positive for IgG requires prophylaxis
Symptoms of adult toxoplasma gondii infection
Usually flu-like symptoms or asymptomatic in healthy people
Immunocompromised at risk for encephalitis, may see RING-ENHANCING lesions on head CT or MRI
Symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis
Chorioretinitis
Hydrocephalus -> seizures
Intracranial calcifications
Can also cause deafness
Dx of toxoplasmosis
Serology (IgM and IgG), radiology, retinal exam
Can also do biopsy looking for intramuscular cysts
Note that serology does not indicate active infection, as 30% of population are estimated to be carriers
Vector and geographic distribution associated with Trypanosoma brucei
Vector = tsetse fly
Endemic to Gambia and Rhodesia, Africa (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodiense)
Clinical manifestations of Trypanosoma brucei infection
Causes African Sleeping Sickness
Initially presents as hard, red, painful ulcer that heals
Systemic spread presents as Winterbottom’s sign: fever, headache, dizziness, LAD
Patient goes through fever-free intervals followed by relapsing fever secondary to variable surface glycoprotein alterations
Eventual progression to daytime drowsiness, altered mental status, coma, and death = Demyelinating panencephalitis
Describe diagnosis and virulence factors associated with Trypanosoma brucei
Dx by trypanomastigotes in peripheral smear, lymph, or CSF
Can do card agglutination for T.brucei gambiense
T.brucei has variable surface glycoprotein coats that undergo constant antigenic variation = reason for relapsing fevers
Transmission of Naegleria fowleri
Associated with freshwater — swimming, watersports
Also associated with nasal irrigation, contact lens solutions, etc.
Pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of Naegleria fowleri
Trophozoite enters CNS via cribriform plate causing primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (nuchal rigidity, fevers, altered mental status)
High mortality rate — rapidly fatal with poor prognosis
Diagnosis of Naegleria Fowleri
CSF examination shows amoebas
[note that this may resemble a bacterial infection but there will be no bacteria on gram stain or culture. Note that NO cysts form in brain which differentiates NF from other amoebas]
What are the 4 protozoa of the blood
Trypanosoma cruzi
Babesia spp.
Plasmodium spp.
Leishmania spp.
Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi including geographic location
Found in Southern US, Mexico, South America
Transmission via Reduviid “kissing bug” — bites around victim’s mouth and deposits feces (containing parasite) that are later scratched in
Note that initial bite is painless
Clinical manifestations of Chaga’s disease (Trypanosoma cruzi) — including 3 phases
Acute: chagoma, romana sign, fever, malaise, LAD, myocarditis, severe meningoencephalitis (young pts)
Intermediate: asymptomatic
Chronic: dilated cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, megacolon, achalasia
Dx of Chaga’s disease
Peripheral smear for motile promastigotes (these are only present during active infection) — during chronic infection dx by serology and clinical symptoms
Trypanosomes may be seen within cardiac myocytes on heart biopsy (gets to heart by burrowing into endocarium)
Xenodiagnosis
Vector and geographic distribution of Babesia microti (babesiosis)
Vector = ixodes tick
Found in NE USA (similar to borrelia, so must check for that too)
Clinical manifestations of babesiosis
Who has increased risk besides immunocompromised?
Most cases subclinical or mild, but can look like malaria
In immunocompromised, see irregularly cycling fever, hemolytic anemia, fatigue, protracted disease course
Increased risk of severe disease in sickle cell patients as well as asplenic pts
Dx of babesiosis
Thick blood smear — see maltese cross appearance in RBC, representing TETRAD of trophozoites (this differentiates from malaria)
PCR is more sensitive test, can also do serology
A blood smear and ____ stain can be used to see parasites in RBCs infected with Plasmodium spp
Giemsa
What are the 4 species of Plasmodium and how are they characterized based on fever cycle
Plasmodium malariae = quartan fever cycle (q72 hrs)
Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale = tertian fever cycle (q48 hrs)
Plasmodium falciparum = irregular fever pattern
Which species of Plasmodium produces dormant hypnozoites in liver hepatocytes?
Plasmodium vivax
Plasmodium ovale