Parasites Flashcards
Endoparasite
Lives within the host
Ectoparasite
Lives on the surface of body
Organisms classified as parasites are usually? Two categories?
Eukaryotes (Protozoa and Metazoa)
Protozoa
Unicellular
Metazoa
Multicellular
These are branched into anthropoids and helminiths (round and flat worms)
Flat worm divisions?
Flukes and Tapeworms
Most protozoa and metazoa are ______ and seldom are an inconvience to the human race. Minority = parasites of humans/other vertebrates. Disease-causing species are typically OBLIGATE PARASITES, dependent on vertebrate and/or anthropoid hosts to live in.
Free-living
Increased risk for parasitic disease?
Third world, travelers, impoverished, sexually active, immunocompromised
Protozoa transmission?
insect, fecal-oral, sex
Metazoa transmission?
macroscopic penetration of barriers (or insects)
What plays a role in helminth infections?
IgE (early role)
Degranualtion of basophils and mast cells is due to IgE response. Histamine is released as well as others. Helps to recruit ore inflammatory cells.
What participates in killing of antibody coated parasites (IgE)?
Eosinophils.
Techniques for parasitic infections?
- history taking
- imaging
- laboratory techniques (definitive)
Death categories from parasites?
Helminths
Malaria
Schistosomiasis
Entamoeba histolytica
Sudden attack in malaria is described as what…?
paraoxysm
Malaria Most deadly? How to diagnose? What does it look like?
Plasmodium Flaciparum
Blood test is used to diagnose
Looks like a ring in the RBC
Vector for Malaria?
Anopheles mosquito
What family is the plasmodium falciparum apart of? What is their asexual reproduction called?
- Sporozoa class (technically a protozoa - unicellular)
- Schizogony (sporogony) = asexual reproduction in RBCs where the nucleus undergoes division before cell division (unique)
What phylum is the plasmodium flaciparum in? What other types of parasites does it include?
Phlyum = Apicomplexa
Includes:
- Cryptosporidium parvum (causes severe diarrhea in AIDS pts, tranmitted via cyts in H20)
- Toxoplasma gondii - COMMON - (brain abscess [aids] and brain damage [newborn], raw meat transmits cysts
TORCH used when?
NEONATAL JAUNDICE - INFECTIOUS ETIOLOGIES
Used for several perinatal infections that are vertically transmitted from mother to offspring and associated with congenital anomalies, rash, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and other changes
TORCH stands for…?
Toxoplasmosis Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19) Rubella Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Herpes
Definitive Host
host where the parasite reproduces sexually (ex. mosquito in malaria)
Intermediate Host
host where the parasite reproduces ASEXUALLY or undergoes larval development (ex. human in malaria)
Steps in Malaria
- Mosquito takes a blood meal (injects sporozites).
- Infected Liver cell - Liver cell bursts.
- Human blood cell infected (ring stage). - SEE SYMPTOMS HERE. Matures in RBC and causes it to burst.
- Creates gametes in RBCs that can be taken up by another mosquito.
- Fertilization happens in mosquito through sexual reproduction.
Symptoms of Malaria?
Cycling fever due to lysing of RBC; periodicity = 48 hrs
Diagosis/Tx for Malaria?
Diagnosis = blood smear
Tx = chloroquine; Artemisinin therapy if resistant
Use nets/pesticides
Plasmodium falciparum is deadly but what is one thing that is good about it?
doesn’t remain dormant in liver; aka eradicating the RBC contained form = curative
P. vivax and P. ovale infections… what is unique about them?
Remain dormant in liver as “hypnozoite” (sleeping animals) and they can have a relapsing infection even if you eradicate the RBC forms
What medication should be used for P. vivax and P. ovale dormant liver forms?
primaquine to clear liver forms