Parasitology part 3 Flashcards
Describe Cryptosporidium
Banana shaped sporozites. Dangerous to immunocompromised patients. Transmitted by ingestion. Cause damage to enterocytes
DIscuss Cryptosporidium pathophysiology.
Invades and destroys apical tips of enterocytes. Creates a vacuole; Separating itslef from the cytoplasm of the cell.
Describe the clinical presentation of Cryptosporidium in Immunocompetent/compromised patients.
Immunocompetent: Self limiting diarrhea without blood or leukocytes
Immunocompromised: Life threatening diarrhea and mal-absorption.
Why is Cryptosporidium difficult to treat?
Difficult to remove from water supply; Chlorination is not effective.
Describe Giardia Lamblia
Transmitted by ingestion; Motile. Found in untreated drinking water.
Discuss Giardia Lamblia pathophysiology.
Parasites DO NOT INVADE the mucosa; Merely attach. Destroys microvilli and disrupts absorption.
How does Giardia Lamlia present clinically?
Foul greasy stool; Diagnosed if trophozoites or cysts are in stool.
Describe Entabmoeba histolytica.
Transmitted by fecal-oral of cysts; Exist as a cyst with four nuclei or a trophozoite engulfing RBCs. Leaves flask shaped lesions.
Discuss the pathophysiology of Entamoeba histolytica
Stomach acid leads to exystation and release of trophozoite. Trophozoites bind to intestinal epithelium and release cytotoxins and lead to cell death and invasion into mucousa.
Describe the clinical presentation of Entamoeba histolyica.
Diarrhea, cramps, Liver abscess and hepatomegaly
How is Entamoeba diagnosed?
Stool.
Describe Plasmodium malaria
Arthropod; Causes damage by mechanical obstruction and toxins.
Describe the clinical presentation of plasmodium malaria.
Fever, headache, vomiting
Describe the pathophysiology of cerebral malaria
Sequestration of infected erythrocytes to the endothelial cells of the small vasculature in the brain; Brain swelling arrests breathing.
How is plasmodium malaria diagnosed?
RDT to detect parasite antigen. Blood smear with Field stain.
