Protozoa - Flagellates Flashcards
What does it infect?
Intestinal, genito-urinary tract, tissue, blood
What are the 2 species of intestinal flagellates?
- Giardia intestinalis
- Pentatricho monas hominis
What is the infective stage of Giardia intestinalis?
Cyst
What is the mode of transmisison of Giardia intestinalis?
Ingestion of cysts in food or water
Faecal-oral transmission
What is Giardia intestinalis common in?
Stools
What does Giardia intestinalis cause?
Giardiasis
- Often asymptomatic
- Acute or chronic (recurrent episodes) diarrhoea
- Sudden explosive watery diarrhoea (bulky, frothy, greasy, foul-smelling stools, no blood or mucus)
- Upper gastro-intestinal uneasiness, bloating, flatulence, belching, cramps, nausea, vomiting, anorexia
How to diagnose Giardia intestinalis?
- Stools for trophozoites, cysts
- Duodenal samples for trophozoites (duodenal drainage, duodenal capsule technique)
- Enzyme immunoassay for Giardia antigen (or direct fluorescence assay/cartridge)
How to treat Giardia intestinalis?
Metronidazole 250mg tid x 5 days
What is the infective stage of Pentatricho monas hominis?
Trophozoite
What is the mode of transmission of Pentatricho monas hominis**?
Ingestion of trophozoites in food or water
What disease does Pentatricho monas hominis cause?
Nonpathogenic!
What is the species of genito-urinary tract flagellate?
Trichomonas vaginalis
How is Trichomonas vaginalis transmitted?
Sexually
Where is Trichomonas vaginalis triphozoites present in?
Female vagine, male urethra
How long is the incubation of Trichomonas vaginalis?
4-20 days
What are the clinical presentations in females with Trichomonas vaginalis?
- 50% asymptomatic
- Acute or chronic vaginitis
- Urethritis
- **Vagina and cervix erythematous with small punnctate haemorrhages and ulcerations - Purulent, frothy yellow-greenish discharge**
- Pruritus, burning sensation on urination
What are the clinical presentations in males with Trichomonas vaginalis?
- Often asymptomatic
- Mild dysuria or pruritus
- Minor urethral discharge
How to diagnose Trichomonas vaginalis?
- Microscopic examination of vaginal discharge, prostatic secretion, urine sediment (motile trophozoite seen in wet preparation)
- Culture of vaginal swab in soft agar
- Commercial detection kit (InPouch TV)
- Antigen detection (OSOM Trichomonas Rapid Test)
How to treat Trichomonas vaginalis?
- Metronidazole (Flagyl) 2g once or 250mg tid orally x 7 days
- Sexual partners also to be treated
