Parasitology 1 Flashcards
What is the prevalence of parasitic disease?
globally they are very highly prevalent, mortality is low
What is the leading cause of parasitic death?
malaria, 1-3 million deaths
Why don’t we see them in the US?
better nutrition, sanitation, temperate climate,
Why haven’t vaccines and anti-parasitic drugs been more sought after?
exist in poor areas so they won’t make money
Why don’t we have a high level of parasitemia in the US?
We don’t have certain vectors in this country
What are the two classifications of parasites?
unicellular and multicellular
Name the major bloodborne parasites.
Malaria, babesia, trypanosomes, leishmania, filarial infections
How many new cases of malaria per year?
50 million
Why is it different to control?
resistance to drugs and increased global travel
How many strains of malaria are there that infect humans? What is the most fatal>?
4-5; plasmodium falciparum
What used to be the primary malarial strain?
P. vivax, but now its P. falciparum
Describe the life cycle of malaria?
Has 2 complete life cycles, one in humans and one in mosquito
Which mosquito transmits malaria?
female members of the anopheles species
Where are the largest numbers of malaria?
Africa, followed by india
What are the immunological and genetic protections?
Hemoglobin variant, Hb S and Hb C
What id Duffy Antigen?
It is an antigen that makes malarial infection more likely; if it is lacking, you can’t be infected via P. vivax
Life cycle of the malaria parasite
sporozoites in salivary gland, oocysts in stomach wall, male and female gametocytes, liver phase, and release of merozoites from liver
Wgar happens to the merozoites from liver?
enter red cells where both sexual and asexual cycles continue
What are the stages of malaria?
cold stage: feeling of intense cold, vigourous shaking, 15-60 mins
hot stage intense heat, dry bruning skin, throbbing headache, lasts 2-6 hrs
sweatinf stage: profuse sweating, declining temperature, exhausted, last 2-4 hrs
Why is P. falciparum deadly?
it infects all ages of RBCs, accounts for a very high level of parasitemia
What is PfEMP-1
can attach to CD36 receptors, found in high concentrations of the endothelium/ organs; most RBCs are stuck on other tissues; causes occlusion of circulatory system
What kills individuals?
cerebral malaria, brain can’t get oxygen
What happens with pregnancy and malaria?
placental colonization
Why are antimalarias problematic
a
