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2a - microbiology and IDs > Protozoa > Flashcards

Protozoa Flashcards

1
Q

what are Protozoa

A

Single-celled eukaryotic organisms (with nucleus)

can be free-living or parasitic

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2
Q

what are the 5 major groups of protozoa

A

Flagellates

Amoebae

Sporozoans

Ciliates

Microsporidia

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3
Q

What are flagellates

A

locomotory organelles that reproduce by binary fission

often intestinal

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4
Q

what are the 5 main examples of flagellates

A

sleeping sickness

american trypanosomiasis

leishmaniasis

trichomonas vaginalis

giardiasis

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5
Q

what flagellate causes sleeping sickness ?

A

sleeping sickness = human african trypanosomiasis

Trypanosoma spp

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense = west African milder version

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense = S.E African

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6
Q

how is human african trypanosomiasis transmitted?

A

the bite of an infected tsetse fly

causes a chancre at site (red large sore)

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7
Q

what are the symptoms of human African trypanosomiasis?

A

initially flu like symptoms

CNS symptoms - personality change, body clock alteration, confusion, seizures

untreated leads to coma and death

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8
Q

can human African trypanosomiasis be diagnosed and treated?

A

Diagnosed by seeing protozoa on microscopy of blood or CSF

Can be treated by drugs

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9
Q

what other trypanosoma species (a flagellate) causes a major disease, this time in central/South America?

A

american trypanosomiasis, aka chagas disease

Caused by trypanosoma cruzi

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10
Q

how is American trypanosomiasis spread ?

A

Spread by triatomine bug faeces, blood, contaminated food

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11
Q

what are the symptoms of American trypanosomiasis (chagas disease)

acute and chronic

A

acute – flu like and romana sign

chronic – dilated cardiomyopathy, failure , malnutrition, swallowing problems and weight loss as a result of Megaesophagus + Megacolon

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12
Q

what does the romana sign look like

A

swollen eyelid from faeces in eye

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13
Q

can you treat chagas disease?

A

Effective treatment for acute phase, but once in the chronic phase can only treat supportively eg pacemakers, antiarrhythmics

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14
Q

example 3 of a flagellate

leishmaniasis

how is it spread?

A

leishmaniasis is spread by infected sand fly

infected sad fly bite

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15
Q

leishmaniasis has 3 clinical pictures:

Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous, and visceral

describe Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous

A

Both have ulceration and destruction

Ulcers on face,arms,legs

Mucocutaneous lesions can lead to partial or total destruction of the mucous membranes of the nose, mouth and throat cavities and surrounding tissues. → lead to recurrent bacterial pneumonia + sepsis

no treatment

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16
Q

why does having leishmaniasis lead to social prejudice?

A

When the ulcers heal, they invariably leave permanent scars, which are often the cause of serious social prejudice.

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17
Q

leishmaniasis has 3 clinical pictures:

Cutaneous and Mucocutaneous, and visceral

describe visceral

A

Affects internal organs
Aka. black fever

Characterised by irregular bouts of fever, substantial weight loss, swelling of the spleen and liver, and anaemia secondary (which may be serious).

high fatality without treatment

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18
Q

Example 4 of flagellates → trichomonas vaginalis

how is it spread?

A

Sexually transmitted

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19
Q

Example 4 of flagellates → trichomonas vaginalis

symptoms

A

Can be asymptomatic, have dysuria and yellow frothy discharge

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20
Q

Example 4 of flagellates → trichomonas vaginalis

treatment

A

Metronidazole

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21
Q

Example 5 of flagellates → giardiasis

spread

A

Giardia lamblia

Faeco-oral spread

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22
Q

Example 5 of flagellates → giardiasis

symptoms

A

diarrhoea, cramps, bloating, flatulence,

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23
Q

Example 5 of flagellates → giardiasis

risk factors

A

recent travel and childcare workers

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24
Q

Example 5 of flagellates → giardiasis

treatment

A

metronidazole

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25
what are amoeba ?
class of protozoa Move by means of flowing cytoplasm and production of pseudopodia
26
what is the key example of an amoebiasis?
amoebic dysentery
27
amoebic dysentery - how is it spread?
Faeco-oral
28
amoebic dysentery - epidemiology
Common in poor sanitary conditions/ tropical countries
29
amoebic dysentery - symptoms
dysentery, colitis, lung and liver abscesses or asymptomatic
30
amoebic dysentery - treatment
metronidazole
31
what are sporozoans?
class of protozoa No locomotory extensions All species parasitic
32
what does cryptosporidiosis ( a sporozoan) cause?
Causes diarrhoea (watery, no blood), vomiting, fever, weight loss Symptoms last 1-2 weeks, usually self-limiting but severe in immunocompromised
33
how does cryptosporidiosis spread and who is at risk ?
Waterborne At risk: children, swimmers (recreational water contaminated)
34
what does toxoplasma gondii (a sporozoan) cause?
Toxoplasmosis can cause : Toxoplasma encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) Glandular fever type symptoms Chorioretinitis (inflammation of choroid around retina)
35
how is Toxoplasmosis spread?
Ingestion of oocytes or bradyzoite (tissue cyst) through: contaminated food eg. rare beef Contaminated water feline faeces eg. pet cat
36
toxoplasmosis can be deveststaing in pregnancy therefore what foods/activities should a pregnant women avoid?
avoid raw meat, unpasteurised goats milk, avoid gardening or cleaning cat litter trays
37
what type of protozoa is malaria?
a sporozoan
38
name the different species of sporozoan that can cause malaria in humans
Plasmodium falciparum/ovale/vivax/malariae/knowlesi
39
which of the 5 types of sporozoan species that cause malaria in humans causes the highest mortality?
Plasmodium falciparum
40
which of the 5 types of sporozoan species that cause malaria in humans takes the longest to present?
Vivax and ovale Presents after a year! Don't tend to cause death
41
how is malaria transmitted?
By bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes
42
what are the 2 factors that if a patient with them you should suspect and test for malaria
1. fever 2. recent travel history so crucial you test for malaria when a patient has these 2 things because early identification of malaria is key
43
what are the clinical features of malaria
FEVER possible: - headache - myalgia - fatigue - nausea and vomiting - diarrhoea
44
what are possible signs of malaria in a patient?
Anaemia Jaundice (look yellow) Hepatosplenomegaly (big spleen and liver) Black water fever that occurs from haemolysis à haemoglobin then passes into the urine
45
what 2 tests can be used to diagnose malaria ?
1. Diagnose using light microscopy (see the trophozoite) Three blood films are done on consecutive days, as this is the length of the life cycle 2. can also use rapid diagnostic tests, that work like pregnancy tests, and detect plasmodium antigens in the blood
46
how to treat complicated malaria
IV artesunate - newer drug IV quinine + doxycycline
47
what is 'complicated malaria' ? what happens to the RBCs
obstructed microcirculation in organs causing failure Infected RBCs in the human blood stages of life cycle have a greater ability to adhere to endothelial cells (they get sticky) leading to occlusion of vessels
48
which species of malaria tends to cause complicated malaria?
plasmodium falciparum
49
what impact can plasmodium falciparum have on major organs during complicated malaria ? 1. the brain
cerebral malaria Vascular occlusion + hyperglycemia that occurs in maleria Leads to droesiness, increase in pressure, seizures and coma Support with Antiepileptics
50
what impact can plasmodium falciparum have on major organs during complicated malaria ? 2. the lungs
In the lungs, there is acute respiratory distress syndrome lead to ARDS?pulmonary oedema Support with oxygen, diuretics, ventilation
51
what impact can plasmodium falciparum have on major organs during complicated malaria ? 3. kidneys
Causes fatigue, proteinuria, haematuria This is from the vascular conclusion, dehydration, hypotension, haemolysis renal failure Support with fluids, dialysis
52
what impact can plasmodium falciparum have on major organs during complicated malaria ? 4. blood
sepsis - Support with broad spectrum antibiotics abnormal bleeding or anaemia - Support with blood products Anaemia can cause cardiogenic shock Bleeding causes hypovolemic shock Signs: drowsy, pale, tachycardia, hypotension
53
when and how do malaria relapses happen?
hypnozoites can lie dormant in liver and reactivate months later not eradicated by conventional anti malaria treatment prevent by using broad spectrum antibiotics as well as conventional treatment
54
what are the 3 main cycles in the malaria life cycle ? how long is the cycle?
Erythrocytic cycle Exo-erythrocytic cycle Sporogonic cycle ^ life cycle = 4 week
55
malaria life cycle: 1. Mosquito bites an infected human, what does it ingest? how long is the mosquito now infected for?
1. Mosquito bites an infected human ingests plasmodium gametocytes It is Infected for life!
56
malaria life cycle: 2. sporogonic cycle what happens in this cycle (after mosquito has bitten infected human) ?
Within the mosquito: the gametocytes ingested are within the midgut, and undergo development, they end up as sporozoites in the salivary glands of the mosquito
57
malaria life cycle: 3. what happens In the life cycle after the mosquito has bitten an infected human and the sporozoites have formed in the mosquitos salivary glands?
step 3 = Mosquito bites another human When taking its next blood meal it injects the sporozoites into the human
58
malaria life cycle 4. human liver stages the human has been bitten by an infected mosquito. what happens next, in the humans liver?
Hepatocytes in liver get infected by proliferating sporozoites (that were injected by the mosquito) SYMPTOM; abdominal pain in human
59
malaria life cycle 5. Exo-erythrocytic cycle what happens to the liver cells infected with sporozoites?
Infected liver cell develops into a schizont, This then bursts and infects red blood cells
60
malaria life cycle 6. after the Exo-erythrocytic cycle , what happens to the infected RBCs in the human ?
step 6 = human blood stages Within the red blood cell, plasmodium becomes a trophozoite This is one of the forms we can see on a blood film to diagnose malaria
61
malaria life cycle 7. erythrocytic cycle what happens to the trophozoites in the RBCs on bitten human?
The trophozoite develops into a schizont, which then ruptures It re-infects another RBC This blood stage cycle lasts 48 hours in most of the plasmodium species
62
what symptoms present during the erythrocytic cycle (in the malaria life cycle) ?
Cyclical fever when RBCs rupture Haemolysis leads to - Anaemia Jaundice from bilirubinemia Haemoglobinuria
63
malaria life cycle 8. during the erythrocytic cycle, some of the trophozoites dont develop into schizonts, some develop into something else...what?
Some of the trophozoites develop into gametocytes instead of schizont
64
malaria life cycle 9. the human now has plasmodium gametocytes, how is the life cycle repeated?
Another mosquito bites this human This bug takes up the infected gametocytes in its blood meal It is now infected and can carry on the cycle by biting a human and infecting them
65
what are ciliates? why ar they called ciliates?
another type of protozoa have Cilia that beat rhythmically
66
name a ciliate
Balantidium coli
67
what are Microsporidia?
5th types of protozoa
68
what is unique about microsporidia ?
produce spores have a Unique polar filament; coiled inside spore
69
what is the main treatment for infections caused by many protozoa?
Metronidazole
70
what antibody is triggered by malaria ?
IgE response

2a - microbiology and IDs (13 decks)

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