Parasites: Protozoa of the CNS

Question 1

List the protozoa of the CNS

Answer 1

1. Toxoplasma gondii
2. Trypanosoma brucei
3. Naegleria Fowleri

Question 2

pregnant women can transfer

Answer 2

Toxoplasma gondii transplacentally to their unborn fetus

Question 3

cats are the definitive hosts of

Answer 3

Toxoplasma gondii, and humans can contract toxoplasmosis via contact with cat feces

Question 4

Toxoplasma gondii oocysts are found in

Answer 4

warm-blooded animal feces, particularly cats

Question 5

immunocompromised patients are at higher risk for

Answer 5

Toxoplasma gondii infection

Question 6

multiple ring-enhancing lesions on CT/MRI is a feature of

Answer 6

cerebral toxoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients (HIV/AIDS)

Question 7

____________ ________ is the most common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immunocompromised patients

Answer 7

toxoplasmic encephalitis (headaches, seizures, multiple brain-enhancing lesions) is the most common presentation of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immunocompromised patients

Question 8

a brain biopsy can be done to differentiate

Answer 8

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)

Question 9

Toxoplasma gondii cysts can be found in

Answer 9

undercooked meat

Question 10

Toxoplasma gondii can be transmitted

Answer 10

vertically

Question 11

Toxoplasma gondii is a __________ infection

Answer 11

TORCHeS - Toxoplasma is the T

Question 12

congenital toxoplasmosis presents with what classic triad of symptoms

Answer 12

1. intracranial calcifications
2. hydrocephalus and seizures
3. chorioretinitis

Question 13

_____ ______ is a possible complication of congenital toxoplasmosis

Answer 13

hearing loss

Question 14

treatment of Toxoplasma gondii includes

Answer 14

1. sulfadiazine

2. pyrimethamine

Question 15

prophylaxis should be administered to what Toxoplasma patient

Answer 15

prophylaxis (usually TMP-SMX) should be administered to Toxoplasma IgG-positive HIV patients with a CD4+ count <100 to prevent toxoplasmosis

Question 16

__________ used as a prophylactic to prevent toxoplasmosis in Toxoplasma IgG-positive HIV patients with a CD4+ count <100

Answer 16

TMP-SMX

Question 17

African trypanosomiasis

Answer 17

African trypanosomiasis (also known as “sleeping sickness”) is caused by protozoan subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei (brucei, gambiense, and rhodesiense)

Question 18

the tsetse fly is the vector of

Answer 18

Trypanosoma brucei

Question 19

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is a

Answer 19

CNS protozoan

Question 20

Trypanosoma brucei infection will lead to

Answer 20

coma and death if left untreated

Question 21

posterior cervical lymphadenopathy may be seen in the early phase of

Answer 21

Trypanosoma brucei infection

Question 22

Trypanosoma brucei infection can cause

Answer 22

axillary lymphadenopathy

Question 23

Trypanosoma brucei infection often presents with

Answer 23

recurrent fevers

Question 24

Trypanosoma brucei trypomastigotes (mature form) can be seen on

Answer 24

peripheral blood smear in African trypanosomiasis

Question 25

Trypanosoma brucei protozoa rely on

Answer 25

antigenic variation of its surface glycoproteins for survival

Question 26

Trypanosoma brucei protozoa are

Answer 26

motile with a single flagellum

Question 27

Trypanosoma brucei brucei a

Answer 27

CNS protozoan

Question 28

_______ can be used to treat Trypanosoma brucei CNS infection

Answer 28

melarsoprol

Question 29

______ can be used to treat Trypanosoma brucei peripheral blood infection

Answer 29

suramin

Question 30

Naegleria fowleri is a

Answer 30

CNS protozoan

Question 31

Naegleria fowleri is found in

Answer 31

freshwater

Question 32

Naegleria fowleri can enter the CNS via the

Answer 32

cribriform plate

Question 33

Naegleria fowleri causes

Answer 33

primary amebic meningoencephalitis

Question 34

primary amebic meningoencephalitis is a

Answer 34

rapidly fatal disease with a poor prognosis

Question 35

Naegleria fowleri infection is associated with

Answer 35

water sports

Question 36

contaminated nasal irrigation systems and contact lens solutions have historically been sources of

Answer 36

Naegleria fowleri

Question 37

Naegleria fowleri infection can diagnosed by examination of

Answer 37

CSF (lumbar puncture)

Question 38

________ has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Naegleria fowleri infection (but most cases end in death)

Answer 38

amphotericin B