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
Name the 3 main classes of parasites
- Protozoa
- Helminths
- Ectoparasites
What is a Protozoa?
Microscopic single celled organism that can be free living or parasitic
- are able to multiply in humans and cause disease
Are Protozoa able to multiply in humans?
Yes
How can protozoa transmit and where may they live in the body?
- Intestine (transmitted by fecal-oral route)
- blood or tissue (will usually need a vector)
How do we characterise protozoa?
By their mode of movement
Name 4 different classifications of protozoa
- Amoeba
- Flagellates
- Ciliates
- Sporozoa - organisms whose adult stage is not motile
Describe the different shapes and structures/features of protozoa
Some may have flagella
What are some examples of 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
Describe what Helminths are
Helminths are large, multicellular organisms that are usually visible to the naked eye
Can helminths multiply in humans?
in their adult form they can NOT multiply in humans so the amount in the body are dependant on the amount of eggs
Name the 3 main groups of helminths
- Nematodes (roundworms)
- Trematodes (flukes)
- Cestodes (tapeworms)
Name some medically important N helminths
- Soil - Transmitted helminths
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Trichuris trichiura
- Hookworm spp.
- Enterobius vermicularis
- Filarial parasites
- Wuchereria bancrofti
- Loa loa
- Onchocerca volvulus
- Dracunculus medinensis
- Others
- Toxocara canis/cati
- Trichinella spiralis
What are the types of nematodes?
Soil transmitted helminths
Filarial parasites
Name some medically important T helminths
- Trematodes
- Schistosoma mansoni/haematobium/japonicum
- Clonorchis sinensis
- Fasciola hepatica
- Paragonimus spp.
What type of worms are nematodes?
Roundworms
What does clonorchis sinensis cause?
Carcinoma of the bladder
Where does fasciola hepatica live?
In the liver
What is special about the male/ female trematodes?
Males are larger and the females live inside them
Name some medically important C helminths
- Cestodes
- Taenia saginata
- Taenia solium
- Echinococcus granulosus
What type of worm are trematodes?
Flukes
Where does paragonimus live?
In the lungs
How long are cestodes?
2-3 metres long
What type of worm are cestodes?
Tapeworms
Describe what ectoparasites are
Blood sucking arthropods such as ticks, fleas, lice and mites that attach or burrow into the skin and remain there relatively long amounts of time (weeks to months)
Name 4 groups of ectoparasites
- Mites
- Ticks
- Lice
- Fleas