Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Phase 2 Block 1 > Parasitology > Flashcards

Parasitology Flashcards

1
Q

What is a protozoan? Give some examples

A

Parasite
Unicellular eukaryote
Ex. Malaria, giardia, entamoeba

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is a helminth? Give some examples

A

Parasite; “worms”
Multicellular
Ex. Ascaris, loa loa, strongyloides

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Are life cycles the same for all parasites?

A

No

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are the general steps involved in the lifecycle of a parasite?

A

Enter host
Migrate to target organ
Develop into adult form
Wreak havoc on pts
Spread (release eggs, leave host)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the general diagnostics used in identifying parasites in an infected host?

A

Serology - while parasite “wrecking havoc”
Microscopy - while parasite “spread”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is entamoeba histolytica transmitted?

A

Fecal/oral route

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What clinical diseases are associated with entamoeba histolytica?

A

Dysentery
Rare: abscesses in liver, brain, lungs (IC pts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is the treatment for entamoeba histolytica?

A

Metronidazole + paromycin (for cysts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

This parasite causes “beaver fever” and it not treated as it is self-limiting

A

Giardia lamblia/duodenalis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What clinical diseases are associated with Giardia?

A

GI distress: loose stools with no blood
Rare: fever, hives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What are the diagnostic tests used for Giardia?

A

Identification of trophozoites (adults) or cysts (eggs) in stool
Serology and PCR are also options

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

This parasite causes the most severe and dangerous form of malaria

A

Plasmodium falciparum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does plasmodium look like on a blood smear?

A

A ring structure within an RBC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

How does plasmodium spp. cause anemia?

A

Grows within an RBC, gets too big —> cell bursting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are the treatments for plasmodium?

A

Malaria is treated with Chloroquine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the post-exposure prophylaxis options for plasmodium?

A

Atovaquone/proguanil
Doxycycline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How is plasmodium commonly transmitted to humans?

A

Via mosquitoes that are carrying the parasite
The mosquitoes acquire the parasite by taking a blood meal from an infected host

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

This amoeba is commonly associated with improper contact lens cleaning and can cause eye infection and in rare causes spread to the brain (granulomatous encephalitis)

A

Acanthamoeba

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

One of the diagnostic tests for acanthamoeba is placing it on agar and observing if it causes cell lysis on agar. What organism is lysed on the agar?

A

E. Coli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the treatment for acanthamoeba?

A

Miltefosine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

This parasite is transmitted by contaminated cat faces, meat/water, and can be transmitted congenitally.

A

Toxoplasma gondii

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What is the treatment of toxoplasma?

A

Usually not treated as it’s self-limiting
May need to be treated in pregnancy with pyrimethamine to prevent spread to infant

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

In which trimester is there risk of toxoplasma being transmitted to the fetus?

A

3rd trimester —> 60-80% likelihood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Chagas disease is associated with this parasite. It is transmitted by blood, congenitally, or by the kissing bug

A

Trypanosoma cruzi

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Trypanosoma cruzi is found in what parts of the globe?

A

The Americas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What are the 2 phases of Chagas disease?

A

Acute flu like, lymphadenopathy. 50% asymptomatic
Chronic majority (80%) are asymptomatic, cardiac issues (rare) or GI issues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What are the treatment options for trypanosoma cruzi?

A

Benznidazole
Nifurtimox

28
Q

This pathogen is responsible for causing African sleeping sickness

A

Trypanosoma brucei

29
Q

Trypanosoma brucei is responsible for causing African sleeping sickness. What are the stages of this disease?

A

Stage 1: chancre (painless, firm ulcer), flu-like
Stage 2: month/years later —> CNS infection, severe

30
Q

What are the treatment options for trypanosoma brucei?

A

Pentamidine

31
Q

Kala-azar is associted with what pathogen?

A

Leishmania donovani

32
Q

What organs does kala-azar impact?

A

Spleen/liver

33
Q

What regions of the world is leishmania spp. associated with?

A

Old world: Asia, Africa
New world: Mexico, central/south americas

34
Q

How is leishmania spp. transmitted?

A

Sand fly bite
Blood
Congenital

35
Q

What 3 ways can clinical disease manifest with leishmania spp?

A

Cutaneous
Visceral
Mucosal

36
Q

What are the visceral manifestations of clinical disease in leishmania?

A

Non-tender liver/spleen enlargement

37
Q

What are the treatments for leishmania spp?

A

Treatment is geared towards preventing secondary infection
With kala-azar amphotericin B with heat/cold therapy

38
Q

Colloquially called “African eye worm”, this helminth is found in West Africa and presents with calabar swelling in severe clinical cases

A

Loa Loa; round nematode

39
Q

What is calabar swelling?

A

Localized, transient angioedema in response to metabolites released by the parasite

40
Q

How is loa loa transmitted?

A

Deer fly bite

41
Q

What is the treatment for loa loa?

A

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)

42
Q

Although this roundworm is asymptomatic in 80% of cases, it is associated with Loeffler’s syndrome and bronchitis if larva migrate through the lungs

A

Ascaris lumbricoides

43
Q

What is the treatment for ascaris lumbricoides?

A

Albendazoel

44
Q

This is the most common roundworm, presents clinically with mild perianal itching and eosinophilia. It is colloquially called pinworm

A

Enterobius vermicularis

45
Q

What is the treatment for enterobius vermicularis?

A

Albendazole

46
Q

There are 2 parasites associated with Loeffler’s syndrome. What are they?

A
  • Ascaris lumbricoides
  • Strongyloides stercoralis
47
Q

What is loeffler’s syndrome characterized by?

A

Mild resp symptoms
Peripheral blood eosinophilia
Transient, migratory pulmonary infiltrates

48
Q

This threadworm is associated with the clinical disease larva currens (tracks under skin from worm migration) and loeffler’s syndrome

A

Strongyloides stercoralis

49
Q

What is the treatment for stronglyloides stercoralis?

A

Ivermectin

50
Q

How is strongyloides stercolarlis spread?

A

Found mainly in the tropics, linked mainly to poor sanitation
Penetrates skin from soil

51
Q

What parasite is colloquially called “pig tapeworm”?

A

Taenia solium

52
Q

What are the clinical diseases associated with taenia solium?

A

Taeniasis - infection with taeniasis; causes GI symptoms, weight loss, and fatigue
Cysticercosis - migration of tapeworm to the brain

53
Q

What is the treatment for Tania solium?

A

For GI: Praziquantel
For Cystercosis: Albenazole

54
Q

What is the name of the parasite that causes cattle tapeworm?

A

Taenia saginata

55
Q

Although both T. solium and T. Saginata are tapeworms, they have a key difference in clinical diseases associated with them

A

T. Saginata doesn’t cause cysticercosis; T. Solium does

56
Q

What is the treatment for t. Saginata?

A

Praziquantel

57
Q

What clinical diseases are associated with echinococcus spp?

A

GI discomfort
Hydatid disease - happens in severe cases. Oncosphere (egg) makes cysts, goes to lung/liver and causes organ obstruction

58
Q

What is the treatment for echinococcus spp.?

A

Surgery for hydatid
Albendazole

59
Q

This parasite is associated with clinical disease such as swimmer’s itch, schistosomiasis, and chronic GI issues

A

Schistosoma spp.

60
Q

What is schistosomiasis?

A

Migration of eggs through tissue

61
Q

This factor determines which tool is used for the diagnosis of schistosoma spp.

A

The species determines wether to look for the eggs; S. mansoni and s. japonicum are found in the stool
s. Haemotobuim are found in urine only

62
Q

What is the treatment for schistosoma?

A

Praziquantel

63
Q

Are bedbugs associated with any infectious diseases?

64
Q

Are lice a vector for any infectious diseases?

A

Yes; typhus and trench fever

65
Q

This genus of mosquitoes is responsible for the transmission of plasmodium

A

Plasmodium spp. is responsible for malaria
Anaopheles spp. are the main carriers of Plasmodium

Phase 2 Block 1 (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions