Parasitology Flashcards
The intermediate hosts of lungworms are usually what?
Molluscs
Give some features common to bursate nematodes (trichostrongyles)
Direct life cycle
Adult male worms have a ‘bursa’
Small buccal capsule behind mouth
Pharynx
Cuticular decorations aid identification
Posterior end of male worm has an inflation of the cuticle and spicules which aid in reproduction
Eggs are undifferentiated
Which is the infective stage of trichostrongyles?
L3 (ensheathed)
What is meant by pre-patent period?
Time taken from the time of infection (ingesting L3) to the detection of infection (eggs in faeces)
A patent infection is one which can be detected (ie eggs in faeces)
Give some features common to strongyloidea
Well-developed buccal capsule, leaf crowns around mouth, teeth usually present
Direct life cycle
L3=infective stage
Give some features of hookworms
What family do they belong to?
Strongyloidea
Typical strongyle eggs
Life cycle similar to other strongyles except route of infection is via direct ingestion of L3 followed by systemic migration of L3
Adult worms have a large buccal cavity, cutting plates and a hooked morphology
What are metastrongyles?
Lungworms
Give some features of metastrongyles (lungworms)
Adults found in lungs or adjacent blood vessels
Usually indirect life cycle (intermediate host=mollusc)
L1 in faeces, characteristic ‘kinky’ tail
L3= infective stage
Lympho-tracheal migration
What are ascarids?
Give some general features
Large white roundworms (nematodes)
No bursa in male worms
Females lay huge numbers of highly resistant eggs
L2 larvae develop inside egg (infective stage)
Direct life cycle
Paratenic and transport hosts (not necessary for the development of the worm)
Adults in SI (cause blockage but don’t damage mucosa)
Give some features of filarial nematodes
Large (20+cm)
Adult worms found in blood vessels, ligaments, tendons or skin
L1 is laid by female and found in bloodstream or skin of host
Indirect life cycle usually involving flies eg mosquitoes
Regarding ostertagia, what is the stage that infects the host?
Overwintered L3
How do L3 of Dictyocaulus viviparus become dispersed from faecal pats?
L3 escape from faecal pat using fruiting bodies from Pilobolus fungi. Fruiting bodies explode and catapult L3 away from faecal pat further afield on the pasture. Could blow onto neighbouring field via wind.
What species does Dictyocaulus viviparus affect?
Where is it found?
Cattle, dairy replacement heifer calves
Trachea and bronchi
What are the only lungworm found in cattle?
Dictyocaulus
Trichostrongyle eggs are usually how big?
What is the exception?
150 um
Ostertagia= 90um
Give a diagnostic feature of Ostertagia
Fine cervical papillae on head end
Males have a bursa and spicules
Describe ostertagia’s development within the host
Cattle ingest L3 -> abomasum -> gastric glands -> L4 and L5 develop -> L5 (immature adult) emerges into lumen -> adult -> mates -> female lays eggs
Adults sit on abomasal surface, don’t cause damage
What is the PPP of ostertagia?
3 weeks
How many parasites are required to cause disease with ostertagia?
40,000+ L4 and L5
Regarding ostertagia, which part of the life cycle causes damage to the host?
Developing larvae in gastric glands
Emerging L5
What are the clinical signs of Ostertagia infection?
Profuse watery diarrhoea
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Describe how gastric glands are affected by Ostertagia
Gastric glands contain parietal cells -> produce HCl -> bacteriostatic effect, maintains acid pH 2.0, converts pepsinogen to pepsin
L4 and L5 develop in glands -> damage -> parietal cells replaced by undifferentiated epithelial cells -> loss of acid production -> pH increases to 7.0 -> loss of bacteriostatic effect -> no conversion of pepsinogen to pepsin -> increased permeability of mucosa (loss of cell-cell junctions -> leakage of pepsinogen into plasma -> loss of plasma proteins from circulation into gut)
When L5 emerges, nodules form over gland caused by hyperplasia of epithelial cells
Of the 2 types of bovine ostertagiosis, which is more common?
Type 1
Describe bovine ostertagiosis type 1
Dairy replacement calves (born in Autumn/Winter)
End of first grazing season
Disease occurs in late summer (July-Sept)
Calves ingest large numbers of L3 in July, disease 2-3 weeks later
Green watery diarrhoea
Majority of calves within group affected
Describe bovine ostertagiosis type 2
Less common Yearling calves Disease in late winter, early spring Acute disease Intermittent diarrhoea Anaemia Thirst High levels of mortality '
What triggers free living L3 Ostertagia to hypobiose?
Decreased ambient temperature (in Autumn)
Which species of worm are found in the abomasum of sheep and cattle?
Haemonchus contortus (3cm) Ostertagia ostertagi (1cm) Trichostrongylus axei (0.5cm)
Which species of worm are found in the small intestine of sheep and cattle?
Nematodirus spp (cephalic vesicle) Trichostrongylus spp Cooperia spp ('watch-spring')
Nairobi Travel Centre
Which species of worm are found in the large intestine of sheep and cattle?
Chabertia spp
Oesophagostomum spp
Trichuris spp
Babesia is transmitted by what?
Ixodes ricinus (tick)
What is the name of the babesia condition present in the UK?
How big is it?
Babesia divergens
1-2um (small species)
What are the clinical signs of Babsiosis?
Haemolytic anaemia (direct cell lysis by parasite, oxidative damage, increased RBC phagocytosis) Diarrhoea Thrombocytopenia Tissue hypoxia Haemoglobinuria Fever Splenomegaly Disease: red water fever
Acute onset
High levels of mortality
What is the treatment for Babesiosis?
Blood transfusions
Imidocarb
Briefly describe the life cycle of Babesia
Merozoites divide by asexual binary fission
Tick ingests infected RBCs -> multiplication and sexual reproduction
Dissemination of Babesia throughout tick, moves to ovaries -> trans-ovarian transmission
Infection passes onto new host by next generation of ticks
As tick feeds, sporogony occurs in salivary glands (asexual process of spore formation; spores contain sporozoites)
Sporozoitess injected into host with tick saliva
Sporozoites invade RBCs, start to divide (merogony)
Why can’t you do FEC to identify Dictyocaulus viviparus?
L1 found in faeces, not eggs
What is the only lungworm of cattle?
Dictyocaulus viviparus
What is unique about female Dictyocaulus viviparus?
They are ovo-viviparous; lay larvated eggs which hatch immediately
What is the infective stage of Dictyocaulus viviparus?
L3
What are the 4 phases of infection of Dictyocaulus viviparus?
Penetration phase (L3 ingested, lympho-tracheal migration -> L4 -> reaches lungs)
Pre-patent phase (L4 -> L5 in lungs, L5 migrate up bronchial tree, adults in trachea and bronchi; alveolitis, bronchiolitis, coughing, resp. distress)
Patent phase (Adult worms in URT -> eggs and L1s; frothy white mucous, gasping, coughing, death)
Post-patent phase (immune expulsion of adults, resolution of clinical signs)
How can you diagnose Dictyocaulus viviparus?
ELISA
Clinical signs (only lungworm in cattle)
L1 in faeces
How many Dictyocaulus are required to cause disease?
Very few
Describe the immunity from Dictyocaulus viviparus
Short-lived, needs continual boosting
What are the most pathogenic stages of Dictyocaulus infection?
Pre-patent phase and patent phase
In which parts of the lungs are adult Dictyocaulus viviparus commonly found?
Trachea and bronchi
How are Dictyocaulus viviparus expelled from the faecal pat?
Pilobolus fungi
Fruiting bodies explode and catapult L3 from faecal pat
Can you use field rotation as a means for control of ostertagia and fluke?
Yes for ostertagia as it only affects cattle, doesn’t affect sheep
No for fluke as it affects both sheep and cattle
What is the meaning of ‘clean pasture’?
Not grazed by cattle for the previous 12 months
What is the meaning of ‘safe pasture’?
Used the previous year but safe by beginning of June
Describe benzimidazoles
No residual activity, white drenches, kills worms, larvae and eggs
Describe imidazothiazoles
Yellow drenches eg levamisole: narrower spectrum of activity, less effective against developing larvae, no residual activity, used for parasitic roundworms
Describe macrocyclic lactones
Clear drenches, pour ons, injectables
eg ivermectin: 2-week residual activity, not ovicidal
Neospora affects which species?
Dogs= definitive hosts Cattle= intermediate hosts
What are the main clinical signs of Neosporosis?
Neurological disease, ascending hind limb paresis -> paralysis in young pups
Abortion in cattle
What are the different stages of neospora?
Tachyzoites= rapidly divide asexually Bradyzoites= found in cysts in neural tissue and muscle Oocysts= sexual reproduction, found in dogs faeces
How long do neospora oocysts take to sporulate and become infective?
12 hours
Recrudescence of neospora within a pregnant PI (persistently infected) cow leads to what?
Early gestation: foetal death
Late gestation: PI calf
Which testing can you do to diagnose neospora?
Maternal ELISA (test in 2nd half of pregnancy as antibody levels are low in first half, may get false negatives) Foetus: antibody detection in foetal fluids, histology (brain, heart, non-suppurative encephalitis), immunohistology
How can you diagnose cryptosporidium infection?
Oocysts in faeces
Stain with Ziehl-Neelson or Safronin
Age
Clinical signs
How does cryptosporidium affect cattle intestines?
Villus atrophy Enteritis Crypt hyperplasia Loss of mature epithelial cells Common cause of diarrhoea in young calves
Nematodirus battus affects which animals?
Lambs aged 4-12 weeks old (typically 6 weeks old)
Describe the morphology of Nematodirus battus
2cm long Often found in groups like cotton wool Cephalic vesicle Males have long thin spicules Females have large eggs within uterus
What is the pre-patent period of N. battus?
15 days
Describe the life cycle of N. battus
Unembryonated egg shed in faeces L3 develops in egg -> hatches -> infective stage -> ingested L3-L4 in lumen of SI L4 burrows into mucosa L4-L5 L5 emerges, adults mature PPP= 15 days
What value of WEC represents a heavy infestation of N. battus?
> 500epg
What must happen for disease to occur with N. battus?
Hatching must coincide with presence of susceptible lambs (old enough to graze, but before age immunity develops)
When does Nematodirus battus disease occur?
May-June
What are the hatching requirements for N. battus?
Cold period then period of increasing warmth (spring)
Describe the pathology of N. battus
Developing L5 destroy mucosa in SI Catarrhal enteritis Villous atrophy Fluid and nutrient absorption disrupted 2000 worms can cause clinical disease Morbidity up to 100%, mortality up to 20%
Which parasite causes black scour?
Trichostrongylus spp
Describe the morphology of trichostrongylus spp
Small (0.5cm)
Excretory notch
Describe the pathogenesis of trichostrongylus spp
Contributes to PGE
SI: larvae (L4, L5) develop deep in mucosa -> sub-epithelial tunnels -> villous atrophy -> haemorrhage -> oedema -> diarrhoea
Black scour
Weight loss/ poor weight gain
Poor skeletal growth
Describe the morphology of Cooperia
‘Watch-spring’ worm- always coiled
Cephalic vesicle
Male has short, stumpy spicules
Describe the life cycle of Teladorsagia
Direct
Sheep
Adult females in abomasum -> lay eggs -> passed in faeces
L1 hatches, feeds on bacteria in faecal pat -> L2 -> ensheathed L3
Ingested by sheep -> abomasum -> burrows into gastric glands -> L4 and L5 -> L5 emerge into lumen of abomasum, mate, lay eggs etc
Pathogenesis of Teladorsagia depends on what 3 things?
Nutritional status of sheep
Concurrent infection
Development of immune response
Which species are involved in PGE?
Primary species: Teladorsagia circumcincta
Secondary species: Trichostrongylus spp, Cooperia spp, Nematodirus spp
What is meant by PPR (peri-parturient rise)?
Reduced immunocompetence of ewe around parturition
Seasonal reactivation of hypobiosed larvae
What is the main source of pasture contamination with Teladorsagia?
When are eggs usually shed?
When is there a flush of L3 on pasture?
When does disease occur?
Ewe
Spring
Flush of L3 on pasture in July
Disease Aug- Sept
Describe the morphology of adult Teladorsagia
1cm length
Slender, pinky brown
Fine cervical papillae
Males have a bursa and spicules
Describe the morphology of adult Haemonchus contortus
Large 3cm
Cervical papillae
White ovaries wrapped around gut - ‘Barbers pole worm’
Asymmetrical dorsal lobe
Briefly describe the life cycle of Haemonchus contortus
Typical Trichostrongyle life cycle PPP= 3 weeks Larvae develop in mucosa Adults are voracious blood feeders Hypobiosis
Describe the pathogenesis of Haemonchus contortus
Adults feed on blood -> acute anaemia and death
Erosion of abomasal wall
Severe haemorrhagic gastritis
What are the clinical signs of Haemonchus contortus
Severe anaemia
Weight loss
Oedema (neck)
What would you find in a post mortem of a sheep infected with Haemonchus contortus?
Abomasal haemorrhages, emaciation, anaemia, extension of red marrow in long bones
Describe the FAMACHA method of diagnosing Haemonchus contortus
Method by which only certain sheep in a flock are treated against Haemonchus based on the degree of anaemia they show in their mucous membranes
1= pink-red mucous membranes, not requiring treatment
5= white and requiring immediate treatment
What is the definitive host of tapeworms?
Dogs
What is a cysticercus?
Larval tapeworm, typically found encysted in muscle tissue
Describe the typical tapeworm life cycle
Adults in SI of definitive host (dog)
Proglottids break off
Eggs/proglottids shed in faeces
Eggs immediately infective -> eaten by intermediate host
Metacestode develops in intermediate host (sheep) -> eaten by definitive host
Adult tapeworm develops in SI
Which protozoan parasite species affect sheep?
Toxoplasma gondii
Cryptosporidium spp
Eimeria spp
Sarcocystis spp (not a problem in UK)
Describe the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii
Cats= definitive host. Infected by ingesting Bradyzoite cysts in prey tissues
Sexual cycle in SI, oocysts shed in faeces
Oocysts sporulate and contaminate environment. Eaten by any war,-blooded animal
In intermediate host (rodents, birds), sporozoites are released -> cross gut wall -> Tachyzoites -> bradyzoites -> cysts
What are the clinically manifestations of Toxoplasma gondii
Still births, abortions, ,mummifications, whose discrete lesions on cotyledons (‘strawberry cotyledons’)
Describe what would happen if a pregnant ewe was infected with Toxoplasma gondii: Before pregnancy Before day 40 of pregnancy Between day 40 and 110 Between day 110 and 145/ parturition
Before pregnancy: immune ewe
Before day 40 of pregnancy: infertile/ barren ewe/ resorption of foetus
Between day 40 and 110: abortion
Between day 110 and 145/ parturition: congenital infection
How do you diagnose toxoplasma gondii infection?
Serology- antibody detection in serum or foetal fluids (Dye test= gold standard in humans)
Histology- cotyledons, foetal brain tissue, typical non-suppurative inflammation
Describe the pathogenesis of Cryptosporidium spp
Parasitises mucosa (intracellular, extra cytoplasmic, found at microvillus border of Enterocytes)
Sporulation inside host
Life cycle identical to neospora
Cause villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, enteritis, loss of mature epithelial cells
How can you control toxoplasma?
Management: introduce new stock well before tupping. Infection induces strong immunity
Vaccination: Toxovax- vaccinate before mating, yearly booster, cell-mediated immunity
Cryptosporidium infection is common in which animals?
Common cause of diarrhoea in young calves and lambs (0-6 weeks old)
Faeco-oral transmission
Describe eimeria spp with regards to sheep
Pathogenic and non-pathogenic species
Faeco-oral contamination
Ewe= main source of infection
Lambs, 1-6 months old
Diarrhoea, dehydration, inappetence, weight loss
Damaged intestinal mucosa, oedematous, inflamed +/- mucosal haemorrhage
Treatment with toltrazuril or diclazuril
Which nematode species affect:
Indoor and outdoor pigs
Outdoor pigs
Indoor and outdoor pigs:
- Ascaris suum (SI)
- Strongyloides ransomi (SI)
- Trichuris suis (LI)
- Oesophagostomum spp
Outdoor pigs:
- Hyostrongylus rubidus (stomach)
- Metastrongylus apri (lungs)
How big are ascaris suum worms?
Describe their eggs
Large: 15-25cm
Thick-walled, 70um diameter
Describe the typical ascarid life cycle
Eggs passed in faeces
Develop on the ground; temp-dependent (approx 4 weeks, L2 in egg)
Paratenic host= earthworm, L2 hatches
Egg or earthworm eaten by pig
L2 migrate to liver, lung, L2-L3
Coughed up, swallowed, L4-L5m (adult) in SI
PPP= 8 weeks
Describe the pathogenesis of ascaris suum (pig nematode)
Hypersensitivity response to migrating larvae:
- Liver= fibrous reaction (‘milk spot’)
- Lungs= transient pneumonia
Adults in SI (poor weight gain, mechanical blockage)
Major economic costs (reduced weight gain, liver condemnation)
How do you diagnose ascaris suum?
Abattoir results
Transient respiratory disease
Reduced weight gain
Eggs in faeces (MgSO4 flotation)
Describe the morphology of Strongyloides ransomi in pigs
Small (6mm) Hair-like No ovijectors Very long oesophagus (1/3 of body) Small eggs (40-50um)
What is unique about the life cycle of Strongyloidea ransomi?
Describe.
Free-living AND parasitic cycle
Free-living:
- Male and female adults
- Soil, bedding
- Feed in bacteria
Parasitic:
- Females only in SI (pointed tails)
- Reproduce by asexual parthenogenesis (offspring are clones of female)
- Larvated eggs or L1 in faeces
- L3 are infective, migration via lungs to SI, PPP= 15 days
Describe the disease caused by Strongyloides ransomi
Piglets- transmammary infection
Diarrhoea, weight loss
Treat with BZs, MLs
Describe Trichuris spp
‘Whip worm’ (eggs in thicker end, head in thinner end)
Worldwide
LI
Eggs look like lemons, highly resistant (thick capsule)
Egg containing L1= infective stage
What is the intermediate host of Metastrongylus apri?
Earthworm
Describe the life cycle of Metastrongylus apri
Larvated, thick-shelled eggs in faeces -> hatch -> L1 infects earthworms
L1-L2-L3 in earthworm (L3 survives as long as earthworm)
Earthworm infested by pig
L3 released in gut, L3-L4 in Mesenteric lymph node
L4 reaches lung via lymphatics and bloodstream
Matures to adult in lungs
PPP= 3-4 weeks
What disease is associated with Metastrongylus apri?
Typical in 4-7 month old pigs
Catarrhal and eosinophilic bronchiolitis
Coughing, dyspnoea, nasal discharge
Reduced weight gain, inappetence
Exacerbates other respiratory disease eg Staph infections
What is the incubation period for Leishmania?
3 months to 7 years
What effect do leishmania, babesia and ehrlichia have on the spleen?
Splenomegaly
What is onychogryphosis?
Hypertrophy and increased curvature of the claws
Whic dog breeds are more prone to Leishmaniasis?
Boxer, German shepherd, cocker spaniel, Rottweiler, foxhound
Which dog breed is resistant to Leishmania?
Ibizan hound
When it comes into contact with Leishmanina, produces Th1 cell-mediated response, whereas other breeds produce a humoral response
Is leishmania zoonotic?
Yes
What are the target organs of Leishmania?
Renal glomeruli
Anterior uvea
Synovial membrane of joints
Vascular wall
What would you find in a fine needle aspirate of a lymph node of a dog infected with leishmania?
Macrophages with amastigotes inside
Which are the most effective therapeutic combinations for canine leishmania?
Allopurinol (leishmanistatic) and meglumine antimonate or miltefosine (both Leishmanicidal)
What is the vector of Leishmania?
Female sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus/Lutzomia
Is there a vaccine against leishmania in humans?
No
Is there a vaccine against leishmania in dogs?
Yes- 70% efficacy
3 injections, 3 weeks apart + annual boosters
Very expensive
Induces strong cellular immune response
Some dogs develop necrosis at injection site
What are the host species of Leishmania?
Rodents, marsupials, dogs, cats
Which is the effective immune response that is able to control leishmania infection?
Cell-mediated immune response (Th1)
What is the difference between a susceptible and resistant dog with regards to leishmania?
Susceptible: increased Th2 humoral immune response (antibody production; clinical signs)
Resistant: increased Th1 cell-mediated immune response (killing of macrophages; carrier but no clinical signs)
Resistant dogs who are carriers, if become immunocompromised (parasites, infection, neoplasm, drugs), can develop clinical signs
What is the main cause of death in dogs affected with Leishmania?
Chronic proteinuric glomerulonephritis
How would you diagnose CanL?
Clinical signs, travel history, diagnostic tests:
DIRECT: FNA of lymph nodes, cytology (BM, lymph nodes, spleen, buffy coat of blood), histology (amastigotes in macrophages), real-time PCR (BM/lymph node)
INDIRECT: ELISA, IFAT (titre test), immunologic (CD4+/CD8+ levels)
Which are the best tissue samples for diagnostic PCR and cytology (for leishmania)?
(In descending order) Bone marrow Lymph nodes Spleen Conjunctiva Blood
What is the difference between real time and conventional PCR?
Real time: gives positive or negative result, plus quantity (eg of DNA copies of Leishmania)
Conventional: Only gives positive or negative
What are the main aims of therapy of Leishmania?
Reduce parasite loads as much as possible (can’t eradicate it)
Improve dog health
What is the mechanism of action for domperidone for the prevention of Leishmania?
Increases prolactin secretion -> stimulates cell-mediated Th1 immune response -> activation of macrophages and NK cells
Dopamine D2 receptor antagonist
80% efficacy
In which EU countries is leishmania endemic?
Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, Albania
What are the reported methods of transmission of CanL?
Blood transfusions, sexual transmission
Vertical (in-utero)
What are the suspected methods of transmission of CanL?
Dog bites, fleas and ticks
List factors that can lead to further spread of CanL
Increased pet travel (infected animals moving to non-endemic areas and vice versa)
Global warming
Use of untested and infected dogs as donors for blood transfusions
Drug resistance
List potential causes of human infection of leishmania
Non-immune person moving to an endemic area
Immunosuppression
How can the risk of CanL infection be reduced?
Keep dogs inside when sandflies are most active (dawn and dusk), and away from stagnant water Prophylactic medication (eg domperidone; skews immune response towards Th1-like response) Insecticides Products containing synthetic pyrethroids, permethrin or deltamethrin which repel sandflies (spot-on or collar form)
What are the two forms of the leishmania parasite?
Promastigote (infectious stage)
Amastigote (intracellular, found within macrophages)
Describe the life cycle of leishmania
May-November:
- Female sandfly takes blood meal from host which contains amastigotes
- Amastigote -> Promastigote
- Sandfly bites mammalian host and injects metacyclic promastigotes which invade macrophages
- Promastigotes -> amastigotes, multiply by simple division (48 hrs)
- Amastigotes released when the macrophage dies and are phagocytosed by other macrophages
- Transferred to sandfly during feeding
What is the target cell of Leishmania?
Where do they invade next?
Macrophages
Invade reticuloendothelial system (BM, spleen, liver, lymph nodes)
What is the incubation time for leishmania?
Years
Once established, infection persists in tissues