Parasites GI I Flashcards
What is the most common parasitic infection in the US?
Giardia
What are the four classes of parasites?
Ameba-pseudopodia
Flagellates
Sporozoans
Ciliates
How do sporozoans move about?
Through tank tread-like stuff
How do most protozoa produce?
Asexually by binary fission
What is the process though with protozoa reproduce asexually? Sexually?
Schizogony = asexually Sporogoy = sexually
What allows protozoa to have a low infectious dose?
The ability to reproduce asexually
How are all of the GI protozoa infections transmitted?
Fecal-oral route
What allows many protozoato pass through the stomach?
Cysts
What is organism that causes amebiasis?
Entamoeba histolytica
How does the cyst form of entamoeba look?
Has four nuclei
Are people who poop out the trophozoite form of protazoans infectious? Why or why not?
No, because the trophozoites are susceptible to the environment
What are the two diseases caused by entamoeba histolytica?
Disseminated disease
Intestinal disease
Which protozoan can exit the intestines via the flask-like projections, and enter the systemic circulation? What is the sequalea of this?
Entamoeba histolytica
Liver abscesses
What is the infectious form of entaamoeba histolytica?
Spore form
Who’s at greater risk of shedding infectious forms of entaamoebae histolytica: symptomatic or asymptomatic individuals?
Asymptomatic individuals due to cyst shedding
What is the symptom that is almost always present in pts with amebisais?
Hematochezia
Does amebiasis usually have a fever associated with it?
no
Which protozoan causes a characteristic flask shaped lesion?
Entamoeba histolytica
Why does sepsis usually result with amenbiasis?
the protozoa penetrate the intestinal wall, leading to infiltration of bacteria into the blood
How do you diagnose amebiasis?
Stool examination or antigen detection
or biopsy if no longer intestinal
What are the symptoms of amebiasis if it spreads to a systemic infection?
Abdominal TTP
An amebiasis patient who produces formed stools has which type of entamoeba histolytica in their system: the spore form or the trophozoite form?
Cyst form
An amebiasis patient who produces watery diarrhea has which type of entamoeba histolytica in their system: the spore form or the trophozoite form?
Trophozoite form
Does giardia have a cyst form and a trophozoite form, or just a trophozoite form?
Both cyst and trophozoite form
How many nuclei does Giardia have?
Two (like its starting back at you)
What is the route of transmission for Giardia?
Fecal-oral route
Does Giardia invade the intestinal wall, or just adhere?
Just adheres
Why does Giardia occur in children?
Because they are disgusting
What is giardia usually associated with?
Bodies of water
What is the MOA of how Giardia produces diarrhea?
Sticks to epithelial wall and prevents water reuptake
Does Giardia cause dysentery?
No
What are the symptoms of Giardiasis? (6)
Diarrhea Malaise Flatulence Foul smelling stool N/v
Is there fever with Giardiasis?
No
How long does Giardiasis usually last?
Weeks
What is the consequence of chronic giardiasis?
Malnutrition
What is the only ciliated organism that infects humans? What is the disease that it causes?
Balantidium coli
Balantidiasis
What does Balantidium coli look like?
Pacman
What is the route of infection for balantidium coli? Does it produce cysts?
Fecal-oral route with cyst formation
How common is balantidiasis?
Super rare
What is the reservoir for balantidiasis?
Pigs
What are the acute symptoms of balantidiasis?
Bloody diarrhea or constipation
What is the disease that cryptosporidium parvum causes?
Cryptosporidiosis
How does Cryptosporidium parvun move about?
Trophozoite
What is the difference in the cryptosporidium parvum’s life cycle compared to other protozoan infections?
Reproduces sexually in intestines, and produces oocysts
What is the form that cryptosporidium parvum takes in the environment?
Oocyst
Which unique stain can stain cryptosporidium parvum?
Acid fast
What is the reservoir of cryptosporidium?
Cattle
What is histologically significant about cyclospora? How can you distinguish it between cryptosporidium parvum?
Fluoresces under UV light
Which parasitic infection is associated with HIV/AIDS so much that prophylaxis is indicated form them?
Cryptosporidosis
What are the symptoms of cryptosporidosis? Will there be blood?
Profuse diarrhea
NO blood
What is isopora belli associated with?
Water bodies
What is significant about the isopora belli life cycle?
Reproduces sexually in the intestines
What are the symptoms of isopora belli infx?
Fever, diarrhea, weight loss, electrolyte imbalance
What are cyclospora associated with?
Raspberries from Guatemala
How do you diagnose cyclospora?
Fluoresce them under UV light
What are the protozoa that we don’t know much about, but are found with increasing frequency among HIV/AIDS patients?
Microsporidiosis
What are the symptoms of infection with microsporidia?
Chronic diarrhea, weight loss
