Test 3: Worms and Flukes Flashcards
Which of these are considered parasites in the field of infectious diseases?
a. protozoans
b. bacteria
c. some insects
d. a & c
e. all of these
D. protozoans and some insects
What is the biggest group of worms?
- nematodes (giant roundworm)
ascaris lumbicodes
What are the big 3 soil transmitted diseases?
- giant roundworm
- hookworm
- whipworm
- 4th: threadworm with endogenous/atuo-reinfection ability meaning it can multiply without going outside the body and multiply in the soil
What are the other 2 types of worms?
- tapeworms
- flukes
What can cause more human disease than any other infection?
- worms and flukes to low CDC reportability
What is the main distinction of hookworm?
- actively seeks human host by living on plant and going through human foot
What is the most important nematode worms?
- common roundworm: ascaris lumbridcoides (most common in tropics)
- whipworm: trichuris trichiura
- hookworm: necator Americanus and ancylostoma duodenale
- threadworm: strongyloides stercoralis
- pinworm: enterobius vermicularis (most common in US)
What is the most successful human parasite?
nematodes
How common are soil transmitted helminths in US?
no one knows
What is the #1 US prevalence worm?
- pinworms: enterobius vermicularis
- small, white
- humans are only host for the entire life cycle
- to lay eggs: requires more oxygen iso female will emerge from any and lay them on skin at night and dies
What is the habitat and transmission of pinworms: enterobius vermicularis?
- more often in urban areas (highest in US)
- fecal-oral route from surfaces or by swallowing dust
What is the epidemiology of pinworms: enterobius vermicularis?
- most common parasite in US
- almost all children infected with siblings in same household infected
What is the pathogenesis of pinworms: enterobius vermicularis?
- intense itching of perineal area
- resolves about 6 weeks
What is the dx, tx, and prevention of pinworms: enterobius vermicularis?
- dx: scotch tape
- tx: pinworm medicine: pyrantel, petroleum jelly can prevent eggs from getting oxygen
- prevention: hand washing and normal hygiene
What is the #2 US associated but #1 medically important helminth in the US and world?
- nematode common roundworm: ascaris lumbricodes
What is the distinctive features of nematode roundworm: ascaris lumbricodes?
- large roundworm
- most abundant in tropics
- unusual and lung migration
What is the habitat and transmission of nematode roundworm: ascaris lumbricodes?
- Southeast Asia
- eggs are resistant to chemical inactivation but susceptible to sunlight so must incubate several weeks in warm soil to become infectious
- can remain viable for years
What is the epidemiology nematode roundworm: ascaris lumbricodes?
- human waste as fertilizer and consuming veggies
What are the clinical manifestations of nematode roundworm: ascaris lumbricodes?
- larva inside eggs are ingested from contaminated soil
- hatch in small intestine and larva burrow through wall and carries to lungs in blood
- size of the adult can block intestine or ducts/perforations but with many worms
- if few= asymptomatic
- symptoms: insomnia, GI problems, malnutrition
- infection untreated: 1-2 years which is the life span of the adult