Sketchy Micro: Cestodes

Question 1

Cestode is just a fancy word for ___________.

Answer 1

tapeworm

Question 2

Cestodes are usually acquired by what mode of transmission?

Answer 2

• Eating undercooked beef for Taenia saginata (like the cow under the sagging tent) with worms in it
• Eating undercooked pork for Taenia solium (like the SOLd pig under the other tent with the sun – sol –on it) with worms

Question 3

If you were shown a micrograph of T. saginata and T. solium, how could you tell them apart?

Answer 3

T. solium has hooks near its mouth (represented in this scene by the hooks over the pig), while T. saginata does not.

Question 4

Describe the pathogenesis of neurocysticercosis.

Answer 4

Ingestion of the eggs of cestodes allows the parasites to travel to the brain. There, they make cystic lesions that can cause seizures.

(Think of [1] the poop around the carousel representing ingestion of eggs; [2] the little girl falling with seizure lines; and [3] the cheese on her head as she’s fallen into the cheese stand which makes it look like she’s got holes in her brain.)

Question 5

What drugs treat Taenia?

Answer 5

• Praziquantel (like the pretzel stand)
• Albendazole (like the strong man bending the pipe on the carousel)

Note: neurocysticercosis has to be treated with albendazole.

Question 6

Undercooked fish can transmit what tapeworm?

Answer 6

Diphyllobothrium latum

Think of the guy DYing to get to the BaTHRooM and throwing the fish he was eating into the air.

Question 7

Diphyllobothrium latum can cause ____________ deficiency.

Answer 7

B12 (like the sign near the porta potty saying “must B 12 to buy fireworks”)

Question 8

Which tapeworm is biggest?

Answer 8

D. latum is biggest (represented by the guy with the long piece of toilet paper stuck to his heel)

Question 9

How can Diphyllobothrium latum be diagnosed?

Answer 9

The proglottid segments will appear in O&P.

Think of the sections of toilet paper in the poop.

Question 10

What two drugs treat D. latum?

Answer 10

• Praziquantel (like the guy eating a pretzel)

* Niclosamide (like the 1 NICkeL bathroom)

Question 11

What are the hosts for Echinococcus granulosus?

Answer 11

Dogs and sheep (like the sheep dog on the stand)

Question 12

How is E. granulosus transmitted?

Answer 12

By dog feces (like the poop behind the winning dog)

Question 13

Those infected with Echinococcus granulosus might have what on liver CT?

Answer 13

Eggshell calcifications (like the cracked egg in the golden cup beneath the winner)

(To remember that it’s a liver cyst, think of the ribbon on the liver-shaped spot on the dog.)

Question 14

Rupture of hydatid cysts can cause ________________.

Answer 14

anaphylaxis (like the guy turning red and swollen from embarrassment as the second-place ribbon crumbles in his hands)