Parasitology 🪱 Flashcards
What is the definition of malaria?
Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne blood disease caused by a plasmodium parasite.
What are the species of Plasmodium parasite?
Plasmodium vivax: Benign tertian malaria or vivax malaria
Plasmodium ovale: Benign tertian malaria or oval malaria
Plasmodium malariae: Benign quartan malaria or malariae malaria.
Plasmodium falciparum: Tertian or subtertian malignant malaria or falciparum
“Plasmodium malarie causes nephrotic syndrome”
What is a definitive host in the lifecycle of plasmodium?
♀ Anopheles
What is intermediate host and the reservoir host in the lifecycle of plasmodium?
- IH: man
- RH: non except P.malaraie monkey
What is the infective stage for both humans and female anopheles mosquito?
- Sporozoites inoculated with mosquito’s saliva at the site of bite.
- Gametocytes which are present in blood
Where does schizogony occur?
- In I.H (man) asexual multiplication in Liver (exoerythrocytic cycle),& Red cells (erythrocytic cycle).
What are the steps of Exoerythrocytic Schizogony?
- hepatocyte invasion in 30 min, 6-15 days, 1000-40,000 merozoites, no overt pathology
- The released merozoites, some are histiotropic and infect new liver cells initiating secondary exo-erythrocytic tissue phase (never in mammals, only in bird & lizard), and other merozoites are erythrotropic which invade and infect red blood cells initiating erythrocytic cycle.
Which type of malaria has Hypnozoits?
- Hypnozoite Forms only P. vivax and P. ovale
What are the steps of Erythrocytic phase (asexual erythrocytic schizogony)?
- young trophozoite called ‘ring form’, ingests host hemoglobin by cytostome forming hemozoin (malarial pigment), nuclear division, begin schizont stage (6-40 nuclei)
What are the characteristics of Gametocytogenesis?
- ring but with no vacuolation, increase in size → gametocyte, no pathology, infective stage for mosquito
What is the relation between the merozoites of exo-erythrocytic cycle in liver and merozoites of erythrocytic cycle?
- The merozoites of exo-erythrocytic cycle in liver can invade red cells initiating erythrocytic cycle, but the merozoites of the erythrocytic cycle can’t invade the liver cells.
Where does sorogony cycle occur?
- In female Anopheline mosquito vector
what happens in sorogony cycle?
- occurs in mosquito gut, ‘exflagellation’ 8 microgametes formed,
- Fertilization →rounded zygote, elongates →ookinete →penetrates between the basement membrane & the elastic layer of the stomach →oocyst →sporocyst
- The sporocysts ruptures and the released sporozoites (infective stages) migrate to the salivary gland
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to RBCs affected
Reticulocytes - mature cells - old & mature - all types” that’s why its dangerous”
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to Cell stippling
- Schuffner’s dots, fine pigments
- Schuffner’s dots, fine pigments
- Ziemann’s dots, fine pigments
- Maurer’s clefts, course pigments
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to ring numbers
one - one - one - multiple
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to old trophozoites
Amoeboid - compact - band form - compact
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to schizont
- Contains 18 merozoites ,Mature in 2 days
- 8 merozoites ,Mature in 3 days
- 8 merozoites ,Mature in 2 days
- 18 merozoites ,Mature in 2 days
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to gametocytes
Rounded - rounded - rounded - crescentic
Compare between P.vivax, P. Ovale, P. Malarie and P. Falciparum acc to stages seen in a blood film
- Ring, trophozoites, schizont, gametocyte
- Ring, trophozoites, schizont, gametocyte
- Ring, trophozoites, schizont, gametocyte
- Ring, Gametocytes only
How is malaria transmitted?
- By the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito with sporozoites in its saliva (here there is liver affection).
- Blood-borne: Blood transfusion, Intravenous injection, Congenital transmission, After organ transplantation. “Merozoites”
What is the immune response against malaria?
- Protective immunity develops after repeated exposure: Fewer parasites in blood stream & Less fever and clinical signs of disease, No strong immunity to malaria due to Ag variation.
- Immunologic response of the host to parasite Ag & malaria pigments → +++ TNFa and IL-1 release from host cells → clinical picture
Which type of malaria causes fatalities?
- P. falciparum malaria is the cause of virtually all fatalities due to Cytoadherence
What activates the reticuloendothelial system in case of malaria?
- The reticuloendothelial system is activated by the rupture of infected red cells and intravascular release of parasites, malarial pigment, and cellular debris.
What does anoxia stimulate in case of malaria?
- Anoxia stimulate the erythroblastic activity of bone marrow to produce reticulocytes, which are attached principally by P. vivax, so anaemia is marked in this infection.
What causes enlargement of the liver and spleen in case of malaria?
- Enlargement of liver and spleen a result of enhanced phagocytosis of red cell remnants & other debris produced by schizogony.
What is the pathogenesis of malaria?
- Rupture of RBCs are main cause of pathology → Release of merozoites → Reinvasion &↑parasitemia → Release of malarial pigment → Release of HB → Jaundice & Black water fever → Destruction of RBCs → Anemia, Anoxia, & Fatty degeneration of organ → Activation of RES → hepato-spleno-megally
What are the causes of anemia in malaria?
1) Obligatory destruction of RBCs in merogeny
2) Complement mediated & autoimmune hemolysis “AB Vs RBCs”
3) Hypersplensim “Affect normal RBCs”
4) Bone marrow suppression by TNF
5) Short RBCs survival
6) Failure to recycle iron in haemozoin
What is cytoadherence?
- RBCs has knobs on surface covered by adhesive protein Lead to adherence to each other “thrombosis” & endothelial cells “infarction”
What are of the clinical pictures of malarial infection?
- Uncomplicated malaria
- In all 4 species of malaria, human infection is followed by incubation period, then malaria paroxysms include 3 stages: Cold stage “due to VC” , Hot stage & Sweating Stage
- Hepatosplenomegaly (liver & spenic enlargement), Dysenteric symptoms
- Hemolytic anemia
What are the symptoms of uncomplicated malarial infection?
- Fever (paroxysm), Anaemia, & splenomegaly
“FAS”
What causes the dysenteric symptoms in malarial infection?
- due to infarctions in large intestine, may occur in P. falciparum
Why is hemolytic anemia more severe in plasmodium falciparum infection?
RBCs of all ages can be invaded by parasites
Unparasitized RBCs undergo haemolysis
Parasitaemia is higher than in other malarias → destruction of more red blood cells.
“Affects all RBCs in every way”
What are diseases of complicated falciparum malaria?
- Cerebral malaria: ↓consciousness, convulsions, paralysis. “DUE TO THROMBUS IN CAPPILARIES THAT SUPPLY THE BRAIN”
- Algid malaria “صاعقة”: ↓ Bl. P, peripheral circulatory failure, Acute renal failure & Black water fever
- Severe malaria: HB <5g/dL, Pulmonary edema,Metabolic acidosis and shock. “PMS”
Why are falciparum infections dangerous?
“They are numerous, furious and fast”
- Highest number of merozoites → ↑parasitemia, Shorest IP, Cytoadherence→ pernicious syndrome, Prediction to all RBCs types
What is relapse in malaria?
- Means recurrence of clinical attacks in patients due to reactivation of hypnozoites in the liver (occurs in P. vivax & P. oval infection) only
What causes recrudescence in malaria?
- is due to persistence of blood forms between attacks
What is recrudescence in malaria?
- recurrence of clinical attacks in patients having low grade parasitaemia when they become debilitated, in all types
How is malaria diagnosed?
- Clinical findings, History of travel (Imported malaria)
- Blood film
- Therapeutic test
- Serodiagnostic methods
- Dipstick test
- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): can be used to detect parasite DNA.
what is the therapeutic test used to diagnose malaria?
- antimalarial, drug if result in disappearance of fever within 6 days
What is serodiagnosis of malaria?
- indirect fluorescent antibody test
What is the dipstick test used for detection of malaria?
- by which parasite antigens are detected by placing a drop of blood on a dipstick impregnated with antibody.
how is malaria treated?
- Treatment in case of 1st trimester of pregnancy: Quinine + Clindamycin
- Blood schizonticides: destroying the parasitic stages in the blood, so act as a suppressive line of treatment. Ex Chloroquine, Mefloquine, Artimesinin derivatives.,
- Tissue schizonticides: that destroy parasitic stages in the liver, so act as a prophylactic measure. Ex. Primaquine
- Transmission blocking: Primaquine has a gametocidal effect
- Radical treatment: chloroquine & primaquine
How is Uncomplicated falciparum malaria treated?
- Artmesinin combination therapy (ACT) “strongest”
- Primaquine (gametocidal)
- Exchange transfusion if parasitemia ≥ 10%.
How are other malaria than falciparum treated?
- Chloroquine
- Primaquin for prevention of relapse
- Artmesinin combination therapy (ACT) in case of chloroquine resistance.
How is chemoprophylaxis against malaria done?
- Causal prophylaxis: primaquine
- Suppressive prophylaxis: chloroquine or mefloquine
How is malaria prevented and controlled?
Man:- Early diagnosis & treatment
Parasite:- Drugs (prophylactic vs therapeutic use)
Mosquitoes:- Indoor residual spraying & Environmental interventions & Larvicides
Vector-human contact:- Insecticide treated bed nets
Why is malaria such a difficult disease to eliminate?
a) Resistance to Drugs “By parasite”
b) Resistance to Insecticides “by insect”
c) Global warming. “inc reproduction”
d) No Malaria Vaccine. “Due to antigen variation”
e) Sustaining funds
What is the definition of Bancroftian filariasis?
- It is caused by a slender “thin” white filarial worm called Wuchereria bancrofti, transmitted by mosquitoes bite, lives in lymphatics, periodically shedding larvae into peripheral bloodstream
- often causes elephantiasis by blocking lymphatic drainage.
What is the morphology of adult of wuchereria bancrofti?
“Female is double the male”
- Male: 4 cm long, curved posterior end.
- Female: 8 cm long, tapered tail.
What is the morphology of the microfilaria of wuchereria bancrofti?
- About 300 x 10 μ.
- Has lose sheath, rounded anterior end, and tapered posterior end devoid of nuclei.
What is the lifecycle of wuchereria bancrofti?
- Habitat: adults live in lymph vessels and lymph nodes especially those draining lower part of the body, and microfilariae are in peripheral blood.
- Definitive host (D.H.): man.
- Intermediate host (I.H., vector): mainly female Culex, also female Anopheles and Aedes mosquitoes.
- Infective stage: infective filariform larvae in mosquito mouth.
- Mode of infection: through the skin, during the bite of infected female mosquito.
- Infected insect bites human→infective filariform larvae actively enter through bite wound→migrate to lymphatics→transform to adult worms.
- Fertilized females lay microfilariae→migrate to peripheral blood→ sucked by insect vector.
- In the insect midgut, microfilariae moult “peel” →infective filariform larvae →migrate to the mosquito mouth.
And what causes the clinical manifestations of wuchereria bancrofti?
“Like entamoeba”
❑ Results from a complex interplay of:
- Pathogenic potential of the parasite.
- Tissue response of the host.
- External bacterial and fungal infections.
what are the types of pathology caused by wuchereria bancrofti ?
Classical filarias
Occult filariasis
Compare between classical filariasis and occult filariasis according to:-
Cause Lesions Pathology C/P MF in blood Diagnosis
“Adult in lymphatics —–> microfilaria in peripheral blood ——-> infective filariform larva in mosquito midgut”
Cause:
- Adult worm
- Microfilaria (Microfilaria usually non-pathogenic)
Lesions:
- LNs & Lymphatics
- Lung, Liver and Spleen
Pathology C/P:
- Inflammation, Fibrosis ands classical manifestations
- esinophilic granuloma, cough, Dyspnea and asthma
MF in blood:
- Present
- Pbsent in blood (present in affected tissues)
Diagnosis:
- Blood film - Serology is less effective
- Serology
What is the incubation period of wuchereria bancrofti??
8 - 16 months
What are the clinical manifestations of wuchereria bancrofti?
Asymptomatic filariasis
Symptomatic filariasis
What are the characteristics of asymptomatic Filariasis?
- in people living in endemic areas, and they are source of infection