Plasmodium Flashcards
Facts about the parasite and the pathology of said parasite
What is the name of the disease associated with the plasmodium parasite?
Malaria
What cells within the body does the plasmodium dwell?
Erythrocytes and hepatocytes
What are the species names of the various forms of the plasmodium parasite?
P.falciparum, P.vivax, P.malariae, P.ovale, P.knowlesi
What effect does carrying the parasite have on the behaviour of the insect vector?
Reduced fecundity (fertility)
Give some examples of the outward pathology associated with human infection of the plasmodium vector
Fevers, chills, headaches/body aches, nausea, vomiting
Why can infection cause a coma? And what is this situation known as?
Cerebral malaria, when the capillaries in the brain are blocked by parasite cells
What issues can becoming infected while pregnant cause?
Parasites in placenta can cause low birth weight or loss of fetus.
Give an estimate of how many killed/infected a year
kills 665,000 infects 243 million
What are some of the symptoms of cerebral malaria?
metabolic acidosis, breakdown of bbb, impaired conciousness, increased intracranial pressure, microhaemorrhages/lesions, longterm neurological dysfunction
Discuss the effects of the breakdown of the bbb
neurons and astrocytes exposed to neurotoxins and inflammatory cytokines in the blood and ACTIVATED, microglia recruited by neurones and astrocytes, back signalling, resulting in damage and abnormal function, NEUROLOGICAL DYSFUNCTION
What is blackwater fever?
Side effect of Pf - haemoglobin in piss. fever, vomiting, jaundice, 20-50% mortality, reaction to quinine as a result of haemolysis esp in GP6D deficients. renal failure.
Give 5 genetic factors associated with resistance to malaria
1) Duffy antigen receptor (duffy negatives are resistant to Pv. located on surface of rbc and is receptor for pv+pc) 2) G6PDH deficiency of metabolic enzyme protects rbc memb during parasite development 3) sickle cell illness - rbc unsuitable for parasite 4) ICAM-1 increased levels, increased malaria severity 5) CD36 adherance to endothelium. more CD36, worse malaria.
Give some of the details of the shiz behind placental malaria
Results from an aggregation of PRBC adhering to CSA on placental proteoglycans, causing them to accumulate in the intervillous spaces of the placenta, blocking nutrient flow. Affects primigravidae women mainly, susceptibility decreasing with increasing pregnancies due to IgG for placental parasites.
Give 4 methods of diagnosing malaria
1) Microscopic. Thick/thin smears, looking for gametocytes. 2) Ab detection 3) PCR 4) Immuno/biochemical detection. Antigen/enzymatic action
Give some vaccine targets
Sporozoite - prevent/eliminate liver stage. Merozoite - decrease efficiency of infection. PRBC. Exo-Antigens. Sexual stages - anti transmission, eliminate gametes.
