Parasitology Flashcards
What is a parasite
Organism which lives in/on a host and obtains nourishment from it
What is essiential for a parasites survival
Host
Parasite provides what to the host
No benefit
What are the different types of parasites
Micro(unicellular) Protozoa
Macro(multicellular) metazoa, nematodes
Platyhelminths(flatworms), arthropods(ectoparasites)
Do Protozoa have a nucleus
Yes
Aspects of parasites and parasitic infecton
- Taxonomy
- Life cycle
- Parasite survival
- Control of parasites
What is taxonomy
Classification relationship between organisms
What is life cycle
Parasite stages- infective to host, responsible for disease, controlled by drugs
What is control of parasites
Environmental management
Drugs
Vaccines
Protozoa is
Unicellular
Examples of a protozoa
Plasmodium in malaria
Eukaryotic cells is
DNA stored in chromosomes inside nuclear envelopes
Do protozoan parasites multiply within the host
Yes
What are features of protozoan parasites
Small number of infecting parasites to a large number of replication
Occurs rapidly- short generation time
Who are involved in usually acute infections with protozoan parasites
Young
Old
Pregnant
Lactating
Taxonomy is based on
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Lifecycles can either be
Direct or indirect
What is a direct life cycle
No intermediate host
Indirect life cycle
Intermediate host required- vector
Trypanosomatidae life cycle
Vertebrate host to reproductive stage to infective VH to invertebrate host
Metazoan parasite is a what type of organism
Multicellular organism
How often does Metazoan parasite multiply in the host
Rarely
How long is the generation time in a Metazoan parasite
Long generation time
Chronic infections are most common in which parasite
Metazoan parasite
What nematodes are present in intestines
Toxocara
Ascaris
Haemonchus
What is the nematode for bovine lungworm
Dictyocaulus
Appropriate methods of parasitic control
Vector control
Vaccines if developed
Wild animal reservoir removal
Resistant breeds
Drugs
Rotational grazing
Prevention of parasites involves
Good hygiene
Husbandry
Vector eradication
Drugs
Antihelmintics are
For nematodes and flukes
Blood borne viruses include
HIV
Hepatitis B and C
Dengue
What size is the genome for blood borne parasites
Small
What is the name of tick borne fever
Anaplasma
Parasites include
Plasmodium
Babesia
Theleria
Trypanosoma
Leishmania
Dirotilaria
It’s important to know life cycle to understand
How specific parasite is transmitted
Wher the parasite located within the host
How the parasite causes disease
How to diagnose infection
How to control infection
Babesia features
Rbc parasite
Problem mainly in cattle, dogs, humans
Leishmania features
Macrophage parasite
Mainly in dogs and humans
In a Babesia parasite it can cause
Lysis and can spread to other cells
Example of an indirect lifecycle
Tick vector
Worldwide
Replicates within rbcs
Disease- haemolytic anaemia
Treatment- drug
Prevention- acaracides to kill ticks
Clinical signs of babesiosis
Fever then anaemia- pale, yellow mucous membrane
Increased respiratory- heart rate
Haemoglobinuria
Can progress to dehydration, weak pulse, loss of weight, milk production
Haemoglobinuria is
Blood in the urine
How do leishmania survive
- Amastigotes hide inside host macrophages mac is effector cell but parasites not killed
- Parasite disrupts mac function
Decrease in reactive oxygen intermediates
Decrease in lysosomal enzyme activity
Metazoanfilaarial parasite features
Hosts- dogs, cats, ferrets, sea lions
Mosquito vectors
Where- USA
Location- adults develop in right artery of heart larvae circulate in the blood
Disease- heartworm- chronic cough, exercise intolerance, cardiovascular dysfunction
Treatment- anthelmintic drugs
Prevention- ivermectin drugs
