Parasites: Protozoa of the Blood Flashcards
List the protozoa of the CNS
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Trypanosoma brucei
- Naegleria Fowleri
pregnant women can transfer
Toxoplasma gondii transplacentally to their unborn fetus
cats are the definitive hosts of
Toxoplasma gondii, and humans can contract toxoplasmosis via contact with cat feces
Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are found in
warm-blooded animal feces, particularly cats
immunocompromised patients are at higher risk for
Toxoplasma gondii infection
multiple ring-enhancing lesions on CT/MRI is a feature of
cerebral toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS)
____________ ________ is the most common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immunocompromised patients
toxoplasmic encephalitis (headaches, seizures, multiple brain-enhancing lesions) is the most common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immunocompromised patients
a brain biopsy can be done to differentiate
a brain biopsy can be done to differentiate cerebral toxoplasmosis (multiple ring-enhancing lesions on CT/MRI) from CNS lymphoma (often a solitary ring-enhancing lesion on CT/MRI)
Toxoplasma gondii cysts can be found in
undercooked meat
Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted
vertically
Toxoplasma gondii is a __________ infection
TORCHeS - Toxoplasma is the T
congenital toxoplasmosis presents with what classic triad of symptoms
- intracranial calcifications
- hydrocephalus and seizures
- chorioretinitis
_____ ______ is a possible complication of congenital toxoplasmosis
hearing loss
treatment of Toxoplasma gondii includes
- sulfadiazine
2. pyrimethamine
prophylaxis should be administered to what Toxoplasma patient
prophylaxis (usually TMP-SMX) should be administered to Toxoplasma IgG-positive HIV patients with a CD4+ count <100 to prevent toxoplasmosis
__________ used as a prophylactic to prevent toxoplasmosis in Toxoplasma IgG-positive HIV patients with a CD4+ count <100
TMP-SMX
African trypanosomiasis
African trypanosomiasis (also known as “sleeping sickness”) is caused by protozoan subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei (brucei, gambiense, and rhodesiense)
the tsetse fly is the vector of
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is a
CNS protozoan
Trypanosoma brucei infection will lead to
coma and death if left untreated
posterior cervical lymphadenopathy may be seen in the early phase of
Trypanosoma brucei infection
Trypanosoma brucei infection can cause
axillary lymphadenopathy
Trypanosoma brucei infection often presents with
recurrent fevers
Trypanosoma brucei trypomastigotes (mature form) can be seen on
peripheral blood smear in African trypanosomiasis
Trypanosoma brucei protozoa rely on
antigenic variation of its surface glycoproteins for survival
Trypanosoma brucei protozoa are
motile with a single flagellum
Trypanosoma brucei brucei a
CNS protozoan
_______ can be used to treat Trypanosoma brucei CNS infection
melarsoprol
______ can be used to treat Trypanosoma brucei peripheral blood infection
suramin
Naegleria fowleri is a
CNS protozoan
Naegleria fowleri is found in
freshwater
Naegleria fowleri can enter the CNS via the
cribriform plate
Naegleria fowleri causes
primary amebic meningoencephalitis
primary amebic meningoencephalitis is a
rapidly fatal disease with a poor prognosis
Naegleria fowleri infection is associated with
water sports
contaminated nasal irrigation systems and contact lens solutions have historically been sources of
Naegleria fowleri
Naegleria fowleri infection can diagnosed by examination of
CSF (lumbar puncture)
________ has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Naegleria fowleri infection (but most cases end in death)
amphotericin B
