Parasitic infections Flashcards
Define infection.
Invasion by and growth of pathogenic microorganisms within the body.
Define disease.
A disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, unfavourable environmental factors.
Illness, sickness, ailment.
Define parasite.
Organism living in or on the host (endoparasites or ectoparasites) and dependent on the host for nutrition- causing damage.
What are the two types of endoparasites?
Protozoa
Metazoa
What are the different types of protozoa?
Amoeba, coccidiae, ciliate, flagellates.
What are the different types of metazoa?
Roundworms, flatworms, flukes.
What are protozoa?
Single celled organisms. Eukaryotes (genome within a nucleus, complex organelles in cytoplasm). Pathogenesis varied. Some have insect vectors (e.g. malaria). No eosinophilia.
What are metazoa?
Multicellular organisms (helminths/worms). Free living, intermediate hosts and vectors. Some just inhabit gut (geohelminths), others invade tissues. Eosinophilia- if invade blood.
Give examples of amoebae.
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba dispar
What is the route of transmission of amoebae?
Infection occurs by ingestion of mature cysts in food or water, or on hands contaminated by faeces.
What is the third most common cause of death of parasitic infections, after schistosomiasis and malaria?
Entamoeba histolytica (amoeba).
Where is Entamoeba histolytica infection most common?
South and Central America, West and Southeast Asia- warm climates.
Rare in temperate climates.
What percentage of Entamoeba histolytica infections are asymptomatic?
90%.
The remaining 10% produce a spectrum of disease varying from dysentery to amoebic liver abscess.
What is the difference between Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar?
E. histolytica is the cause of invasive amoebiasis.
E. dispar is a normal commensal of the GI tract.
What is the treatment for amoebiasis?
Nitroimidazole derivatives (act on trophozoite, but not on cysts) + parmomycine or diloxanide furoate.
How is amoebiasis diagnosed in the laboratory?
Wet mount.
Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar are morphologically identical species.
In bright-field microscopy, cysts are spherical and usually 12-15µm (range may be 10-20µm).
A mature customers has 4 nuclei, while an immature cyst may contain 1-3.
Give examples of coccidiae.
Plasmodium species, causing malaria- mosquito borne.
Toxoplasma, causing toxoplasmosis- cats/kittens.
Cryptosporidium, causing diarrhoea- waterborne.
Coccidian infections in humans are mostly zoonoses.
What is toxoplasmosis?
Mild disease in immunocompetent individuals: fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, sore throat.
In pregnancy, poses serious danger to the foetus.
Transmitted to humans by cats/kittens.
What are the different types of plasmodium?
P. falciparum P. malariae P. ovale P. vivax P. knowlesi
What are the 2 types of plasmodium host?
Humans
Female Anopheles mosquitoes
What are the 2 stages of the plasmodium life cycle?
Liver stage- parasite invades liver cells, multiplies and ruptures.
Blood stage.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
Fever Headache Chills Vomiting Muscle pain Paroxysm (cycle in 4-8 hours)
What are the possible complications of malaria?
Severe anaemia (destruction of red cells.
Cerebral malaria (swelling of the brain, seizures, coma).
Liver failure.
Shock.
Pulmonary oedema.
Abnormally low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia).
Kidney failure.
Swelling and rupturing of the spleen.
What are the treatment options for uncomplicated anaemia?
Chloroquine, Atovaquone-proguanil, Artemether-lumefantrine, quinine sulfate plus one of the following: Doxycycline, Tetracycline or Clindamycin Quinine sulfate, Mefloquine.
How is severe malaria treated?
Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) is recommended for the treatment of P. falciparum malaria.
How is malaria diagnosed?
Blood film, Giemsa stained.
Rapid test: commercially available antigen detection tests (more expensive and less sensitive).
What are the routes of infection for toxoplasma gondii (leading to toxoplasmosis)?
Eating undercooked meat of animals harbouring tissue cyss
Consuming food or water contaminated with cat faeces
By contaminated environmental samples
Blood transfusion
Organ transplantation
Transplacentally from mother to foetus
What symptoms does cryptosporidium (cryptosporidiosis) cause?
Diarrhoea
Fever
Nausea
Vomiting
How is cryptosporidiosis diagnosed?
Stool examination.
How is cryptosporidiosis treated?
Fluid rehydration.
What are the reservoir hosts of ciliates (e.g. Balantidium coli)?
Pigs, rodents, primates.
What symptoms does Balantidium coli (balantidiasis) cause?
Most people are asymptomatic. Immunocompromised patients may experience more severe signs and symptoms: -persistent diarrhoea -dysentery -abdominal pain -weight loss -nausea -vomiting If left untreated, perforation of the colon can occur.
How is balantidiasis diagnosed?
Stool examination.
Give examples of flagellate parasites.
Giardia lamblia (giardiasis).
Trichomonas (trichomoniasis).
Leishmania (leishmaniasis).
What symptoms does Giardia lamblia cause?
DIARRHOEA Greasy stools that tend to float Stomach or abdominal cramps Upset stomach or nausea/vomiting Dehydration (loss of fluids) Most people are asymptomatic.
What is the commonest globally distributed waterborne protozoal infection?
Giardiasis.
How is giardiasis diagnosed?
Stool examination for cysts and trophozoites.
How is giardiasis treated?
Metronidazole/tinidazole.
How is trichomonas transmitted?
Sexual intercourse.
What is the most common, curable, non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the UK?
Trichomoniasis.
Where does trichomonas live in women?
Vagina, urethra and paraurethral glands.
Where does trichomonas live in men?
Urethra.
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis infection in females?
10-50% are asymptomatic. Vaginal discharge. Vulval itching. Dysuria or offensive odour. Not specific for TV. Occasionally the presenting complaint is of lower abdominal discomfort or vulval ulceration.
What are the symptoms of trichomoniasis infection in males?
15-50% of men are asymptomatic.
Discharge and/or dysuria.
What are the possible complications of trichomoniasis infection?
Detrimental outcome on pregnancy and is associated with preterm delivery and low birth weight.
May enhance HIV transmission and there may be an increased risk of TV infection in those that are HIV positive.
How is trichomoniasis diagnosed?
Microscopy- detection of motile trichomonads in swab/urine.
Trichomonas rapid test.
How is trichomoniasis treated?
Metronidazole.
What are helminths (metazoan parasites)?
Complex multicellular parasites.
Cycles may involve insect vectors and intermediate hosts.
For most, humans are the definitive host- few are zoonoses (acquired from animals),
Adult worms cannot multiply in man- number of adults related to infection.
Lay eggs, microfilaria, larvae.
What are the different types of parasitic worms?
Roundworms (nematodes): Ascaris, hookworm, Filaria, Strongyloides.
Flatworms (cestodes): Taenia (tapeworms).
Flukes (trematodes): Schistosoma.
How is giardia transmitted?
Faeco-oral route.