Sketchy Micro: Tissue Nematodes

Question 1

How does infection with Dracunculus medinensis occur?

Answer 1

Consumption of water with copepods (little crustaceans) that have the protozoa inside

(Think of the DRACUla actor drinking from the cup with the little copepod design on it.)

Question 2

Dracunculus medinensis ultimately infects which part of the body?

Answer 2

It exits the vascular system via ulcers in the skin (like the shoelace on Dracula’s foot emerging from a red lace holder)

Question 3

Other than the worm emerging from a lower extremity, what is a sign of Dracunculus infection?

Answer 3

Eosinophilia (like the boy with the slingshot shooting Dracula)

Question 4

Onchocerca volvulus is also called _______________.

Answer 4

rive blindness (like the human hand covering the fly’s face)

The balls of larvae –transmitted by flies –can travel to the eye.

Question 5

Onchocerca volvulus causes what physical exam finding?

Answer 5

Hypo- and hyperpigmented spots (like the light and dark spots on the fly man’s lab coat)

Question 6

How can you diagnose Onchocerca volvulus infection?

Answer 6

Microscopy will reveal microfilariae (like the microscope in the background)

Question 7

What drug treats O. volvulus?

Answer 7

Ivermectin (like the “no dumping; drains to rIVER” sign behind the fly)

Question 8

What parasite causes elephantiasis?

Answer 8

Wuchereria bancrofti (like the witch with the baggy pants –representing the lymphedema characteristic of elephantiasis)

Question 9

Other than elephantiasis, what can W. bancrofti cause?

Answer 9

• Microfilariae in the lungs (like the witch coughing)

* Lymphadenopathy (like her ruffled collar)

Question 10

How is Wuchereria bancrofti transmitted?

Answer 10

Mosquitoes (like the mosquitoes flying around the witch’s hat)

Question 11

How can you diagnose Wuchereria bancrofti?

Answer 11

• Thick blood smear (like the thick blood smear on the witch’s hat)
• Eosinophilia

Question 12

What drug treats Wuchereria infection?

Answer 12

Diethylcarbamazine (represented by the witch’s magazine: “DIET and CARB MagAZINE”)

Question 13

How is Toxocara canis transmitted?

Answer 13

Contaminated dog and cat feces (like the wolf man’s doggy poo bag)

Question 14

Toxocara canis can cause what sequela?

Answer 14

Ocular larval migrans (like the wolf man’s eye mask)

Question 15

What’s the treatment for Toxocariasis?

Answer 15

Albendazole (like the BENt legs of the wolf man’s chair)

Question 16

Describe Loa loa.

Answer 16

Loa loa –also called African eye worm –causes nodular lymphatic edema and can infect the eye.

(Think of the nodules on the Loa Loa Lagoon creature and the irritation in his eyes.)

Question 17

How is L. loa transmitted?

Answer 17

Fly bites (like the flies around the lagoon creature)

Question 18

How can Loa loa be diagnosed?

Answer 18

• Blood smear (like the smear on the lagoon creature)

* Eosinophilia

Question 19

What two drugs kill Loa loa?

Answer 19

• Albendazole (bent chairs)

* Diethylcarbamazine (he’s reading the same magazine)