Parasitology πͺ± Flashcards
what are parasites that affect CNS?
What are free living amoeba?
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba castellani
what is another name for N.fowleri?
Brain-eating amoeba
Geographical distribution of N. fowleri
Cosmopolitan
Morphology of Ameboid form of N.fowleri
Habitat of ameboid form of N.fowleri
It inhabits CNS tissues and CSF
Morphology of falgellate form of N.fowleri
Habitat of flagellate form of N.fowleri
- Present in warm water.
- It not presents in tissues.
Morphology of cyst of N.fowleri
Habitat of cyst of N.fowleri
- It presents only in soil.
Habitat of N.fowleri
- Soil and warm fresh water.
- In man it attacks the CNS.
Infective stage of N.fowleri
Amoeboid trophozoite.
Mode of infection by N.fowleri
Through the nasal route.
1. Swimming or sniffing in contaminated water.
2. Inhalation of contaminated air.
Pathway of N.fowleri after infecting someone
- Amoeboid trophozoites in contaminated water enter the nose, migrate through nasal mucosa β olfactory nerve β olfactory pulp β base of the brain β disseminate to the brain tissue.
Method of N.fowleri ameboid trophozite feeding and division
simple binary fission.
what does N.fowleri trophozite change into in soil?
transforms into cyst stage
Pathogenesis of N.fowleri
- Naegleria fowleri causes primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis (PAM).
- Amoeboid trophozoite is neurotropic, feeds on nerve tissue resulting in necrosis β> acute meningoencephalitis.
- In subarachinoid space: inflammatory cells (Neutrophils)
- In grey matter: Hemorrhage, necrosis & amoebae
- In white matter of the brain: demyelination (Due to phospholytic enzyme produced by amoeba)
Course of PAM caused by N.fowleri
The clinical course of PAM is dramatic, death usually occurs within a week.
Clinical picture of N.fowleri
Stage I: Nausea, vomiting, severe frontal headache, fever, blocked nose with alteration of smell or taste.
Stage II: Signs of meningeal irritation as stiffness of neck (Kernigβs sign), photophobia, seizures, altered mental status, and coma.
Diagnosis of N.fowleri
- Clinical diagnosis
- Laboratory diagnosis
Clinical diagnosis of N.fowleri
C/P with History of swimming or diving in lakes or ponds 2-6 days prior to onset.
Laboratory diagnosis of N.fowleri
- Microscopic examination
- Culture: non-nutrient agar with Escherichia coli.
- Molecular diagnosis
- Mice inoculation
microscopic examination of N.fowleri
- Wet mounts of CSF revealing trophozoites.
- CSF is purulent but with no bacteria, raised cell count of neutrophils (leucocytosis), elevated protein (> 1gm / L) and low glucose (< 5gm / L).
Treatment of N.fowleri
- Patient must be hospitalized: I.V. Amphotericin-B, Fluconazole and Rifampicin.
Prevention and control of N.fowleri
- Adequate chlorination of water of swimming pools and public water supplies.
- Avoid immersing the head in water during swimming.
Geographical distribution of A. Castellani
Worldwide
Morphology of A. Castellani
- Trophozite
- Cyst
Morphology of A. Castellani trophozoite
what characterizes A. Castellani trophozite?
multiple small spiky pseudopodia (acanthopodia).
Morphology of A. Castellani cyst
Rounded, 20 ΞΌ in size, double wall.
habitat of A. Castellani
In environment: fresh water, soil and dust
In man: CNS, eye, skin and lungs.
Infective stage of A. Castellani
- Trophozoite and cyst.
Source of infection by A. Castellani
Dust, water and contact lens fluid.
Mode of infection by A. Castellani
- Inhalation of air, aerosol or dust contaminated with trophozoite or cyst.
- Direct invasion through skin and mucosal ulcers.
- Through the use of contaminated solutions of contact lenses.
pathway of A. Castellani after infecting someone
- After skin lesion entry or inhalation (Reach lungs), Trophozoites thenm invade the CNS through the blood stream
Method of division of A. Castellani
simple binary fission
what type of parasite is A. Castellani?
It is opportunistic parasite causing severe disease in immuno-compromised persons.