Parasitology Flashcards
What is a parasite?
Organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or at the expense of its host
What are the 3 main classes of parasites that can cause disease in humans?
Protozoa
Helminths
Ectoparasites
What is a Protozoa?
Microscopic single celled organism that is free living or parasitic
Are Protozoa able to multiply in humans?
Yes
How are Protozoa transmissed?
If in the intestine the fecal-oral route
If in the blood or tissues - arthropod vector
What are the types of Protozoa?
Amoeba
Flagellates
Ciliates
Sporozoney plasmodium
What are the medically important Protozoa infections?
Entamoeba histolytica Gordia lambton Trichomonas vaginalis Malarias Toxoplasma gondii Cryptosporidium Leishmania species Trypanosoma Cruzi Trypanosoma brucei
What does entamoeba histolyca cause?
Ulcers in the duodenum, dysentery
What does gordia lambton cause?
Diarrhoea
What does trichomonas vaginalis cause?
Infections in the genital tract
What is toxoplasma gondii transmitted through?
Cats
What does cryptosporidium cause?
Diarrhoea
What does leishmania cause?
Ulcers in skin and systemic disease
What are helminths?
Large multicellular worms
Can helminths multiply in humans?
Not in its adult stages
What are the types of helminths?
Nematodes
Trematodes
Cestodes
What are the types of nematodes?
Soil transmitted helminths
Filarial parasites
Others
What type of worms are nematodes?
Roundworms
What type of worm are trematodes?
Flukes
What is special about the male/ female trematodes?
Males are larger and the females live inside them
What are the medically important trematodes?
Schistosoma mansoni/haematobium/japonicum
Clonorchis sinensis
Fasciola hepatica
Paragonimus
What does clonorchis sinensis cause?
Carcinoma of the bladder
Where does fasciola hepatica live?
In the liver
Where does paragonimus live?
In the lungs
How long are cestodes?
2-3 metres long