Protozoa Zoonotic Diseases

Question 1

chagas

Answer 1

Infectious species: Trypanosome cruzi
Associated animals: triatome bugs (“kissing bugs”) & wild animals that harbor the parasites
Routes of transmissions: predominantly by triatome bugs. also contamination of food/drinks. Blood transfusion with infected blood.
Symptoms: initial infection often asymptomatic. Chronic infection can cause heart disease, sudden death

Question 2

Cryptosporidiosis

Answer 2

Infectious species: Cryptosporidium parvum
Associated animals: Cattles especially calves, sheep and goats
Routes of transmission: shed in feces and transmitted by fecal-oral route, ingestion of oocytes in contaminatied drinking or recreational water, direct contact with animal
symptoms: Gastroenteritis

Question 3

Toxoplasmosis

Answer 3

Infectious species: Toxoplasma gondii
Associated animals: pigs, cattle, cat
Routes of transmission: consuming undercooked beef/pork; shed in cat feces and transmitted by fecal-oral route, contact with cat feces, consumption of contaminated food/water
Symptoms: most infections are asymptomatic. Influenza like symptoms. Neurological signs can occur in immunocompromised people. Congenital abnormalities in fetus when pregnant person infected