Pathogenesis of parasitic infections Flashcards
What is the parasite of chagas disease called and describe briefly the main principles of its life cycle?
- Trypansoma cruzi - protozoa
- Basic life cycle:
- Infected bug and defecates at site
- Parasite or person leads to transmissions by invading cells at wound site
- These transform into amstigotes
- These then mutliple into tryopmatsigotes and enter blood
Can also enter via ingestion where it will multiply within the intestine
- These then mutliple into tryopmatsigotes and enter blood
State the 3 phases of chagas disease distinguishing the key features between them?
- Acute: Incubation 1-2 wks after bite! Up to months after transfusion, Trypanosomes in blood
- Chronic ‘indeterminate’: Lifelong infection, Generally trypanosomes not detectable but often positive for parasite DNA, Seropositive - presence of detectable levels of a specific marker within the serum, 60-70% who become infected will develop indeterminate chagas disease, Normal ECG and X rays
- ‘Determinate’ Chronic disease: Seropositive, 30-40% of infected will develop chronic 10-30 years after infection, 5-10% develop chronic Chagas immediately after acute disease
State the key clinical symptoms found in acute chagas with symptoms duration and diagnosis rate?
- Occurs within 3 weeks
- Generally mild or asymptomatic: Local swelling (Romaña), Nodule or chagoma, Fever, Anorexia, Lymphadenopathy - a disease affecting the lymph nodes.
- 1-2% diagnosed with acute chagas due to mild symptoms which are common with other illnesses
- Symptoms last 8-10 wks
What are rare clinical symptoms of acute chagas and who do they primarily affect?
- Primarily affect young and immunosuppressed individuals
- Can lead to:
- Hepatopsplenomegaly
- Acute myocarditis
- Meningoencephalitis
- Fatality <5% of symptomatic
What are the main organs affected by chronic chagas disease?
Heart and intestinal tract
Describe the cardiac impact from chronic chagas?
- Arrhythmia can occur: Protozoa invades ANS conduction fibres, Damages conduction system of heart via inflammation and fibrosis
- Thinning of heart muscle: Damage to heart muscle, Heart muscle becomes tinner + distended due to cardiomyopathy -> Enlarged heart, Insufficiency of heart valves - Aneurysm of apex of left ventricle
- Can lead to heart failure
Describe the digestive impact from chronic chagas?
- Develops in 10-15% of patients with chronic infections
- Esophagus, rectum, and sigmoid colon most affected
- Ineffective peristalsis occus due to loss of ANS - accumulation of faeces
What frequent clinical symptoms arises from chronic chagas and state the complications of it?
Megacolon - Presentation: Constipation
• Complications: Faecaloma, Obstruction, Sigmoid volvulus! Ulceration, Perforation
State the acute chagas pathogenesis
- Tissue damage caused by inflammatory response to parasite in nests of amastigotes in cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle
- Parasite killing by antibodies, activated innate immune response and Th1 pro- inflammatory cytokines.
State the pathogenesis of indeterminate chronic chagas disease
Regulatory immune response characterized by IL-10 and IL-17
State the pathogenesis of chronic chagas disease
- Chronic inflammatory response to persistent parasites in muscle and nerve cells
- Autoimmune mechanisms
- May vary by parasite strain and tissue tropism
- Predominance of Th1 cytokines and CD8+ T cells
State the 3 main species of schistosomiasis?
- Schistosoma mansoni
- S.haematobium
- S.japonicum
Describe the life cycle of schistosomiasis?
VD
What dermal disorder can arise from schistosomiasis and how?
- Cercarial dermatitis - exposure to cercariae from animal or bird schistosomes - Causes rash-like lesions
- Requires pre-sensitization
- Allergic-type reaction
What is the key feature of the immune response against schistosomiasis and what can it result in?
- Granuloma formation
- Originally eggs live in the venous system, but backflow can occur causing eggs to move into the liver.
- Here eggs can become organised in granulomas - leads to inflammation and damage to tissue - Followed by repair and fibrosis
- Overtime Repeated insults and tissue repair leads to fibrosis and organ damage to liver
- Extra info: The eggs formed in the mesentery are pushed through the capillaries, through the intestinal and mucosa and are then excreted.
How can hepato-intestinal schistomsomiasis arise?
- Infections with S.mansoni and S. japonicum
- Pathology caused by immune response to eggs (granulosa formation)
- Typically leads to liver damage
What is the first clinical sign of urinary schistosomiasis?
Haematuria - Presence of blood within the urine