Protozoa--GI Infections

Question 1

Giardia lamblia–disease and symptoms

Answer 1

• Giardiasis
  
  • bloating
  • flatulence
  • foul smelling, fatty diarrhea
  • often seen in Campers/Hikers
    
    • “think fat rich Ghirardelli chocolates for fatty stools of Giardia”

Question 2

Giardia lamblia–transmission

Answer 2

• cysts in water

Question 3

Giardia lamblia–diagnosis

Answer 3

• multinucleated trophozoites (A) or cysts (B) in stool

Question 4

Giardia lamblia–treatment

Answer 4

• metronidazole

Question 5

Entamoeba histolytica–disease and symptoms

Answer 5

• Amebiasis
  
  • bloody diarrhea (dysentery)
  • liver abscess (“anchovy plate” exudate)
  • RUQ pain
  • histology shows flask shaped ulcer

Question 6

Entamoeba histolytica–transmission

Answer 6

• cysts in water

Question 7

Entamoeba histolytica–diagnosis

Answer 7

• serology and/or trophozoites (with engulfed RBCs (C) in the cytoplasm) or cysts with up to 4 nuclei (D) in stool

Question 8

Entamoeba histolytica–treatment

Answer 8

• metronidazole
• iodoquinol for asymptomatic cyst passers

Question 9

Cryptosporidium–disease

Answer 9

• severe diarrhea in AIDS
• mild disease (watery diarrhea) in immunocompromised hosts

Question 10

Cryptosporidium–transmission

Answer 10

• oocysts in water

Question 11

Cryptosporidium–diagnosis

Answer 11

• oocysts on acid fast stain

Question 12

Cryptosporidium–treatment

Answer 12

• prevention–by filtering city water supplies
• nitazoxanide in immunocompetent hosts