Unit 1 - Protozoa Flashcards
What is the name for bird-to-bird transmission of Histomonas meleagridis?
cloacal drinking
What bird type is the most susceptible to histomonas?
turkeys
Chickens that are infected intra-cloacally with Histomonas rarely:
show signs
What do histomonas lesions look like in the liver?
circular depressions of necrosis, enlarged
What do histomonas lesions look like in the ceca?
cecal core, ulceration –> perforation –> peritonitis
When can you see “Blackhead” symptoms appear in a bird that has been infected with Histomonas meleagridis?
~1 week after infection
What are some symptoms of H. meleagridis that can be seen 7-12 days PI?
lethargy, stilted gate, cyanosis
Mortality with H. meleagridis can occur how many days PI?
17 days
H. meleagridis can be more pathogenic if it is concurrent with these 3 infections:
C. perfringens, E. coli, Eimeria tenella
What are some rule outs for H. meleagridis?
Eimeria tenella, Salmonella spp., E. coli
What are the off-label drugs used to treat H. meleagridis?
dimetrodazole, metronidazole
Are there any approved drugs for treating H. meleagridis?
no
What off-label drugs are used to control cecal worm, Heterakis gallinarum?
fenbendazole, tramisol, hygromycin B
Which trichomonad can be seen in birds upper GI tract and liver?
Trichomonas gallinae
Which species does Trichomonas foetus infect?
cattle (urogenital), cats/dogs (LI), swine (intestine)
What are the general characteristics of the Trichomonad trophozoite?
3-5 anterior flagella, undulating membrane, axostyle, single nucleus, NO cyst stage, 4-30 um
Where is T. foetus located in female cattle host? male?
reproductive tract, vagina/uterus; sheath of penis, seminal vesicles, testicles
Where are T. foetus infections located in the actual fetus?
fluids from abortion, stomach of aborted fetus
Is the life cycle of Tritrichomonas direct or indirect?
direct
List the steps of the Tritrichomonas direct life cycle:
flagellated trophozoites introduced during coitus –> trophozoites reproduce asexually (via binary fission) in repro tract –> mature trophozoites in 14-20 days PI
Clinical signs in male cattle with tritrichomonas:
asymptomatic
Clinical signs in female cattle with tritrichomonas:
repeat breeders (delayed estrus), infertility, vaginitis, cervicitis, chronic inflammation of vulva and vagina
What is the only stage in the life cycle of Tritrichomonas?
trophozoite
What are the characteristics of the Tritrichomonas trophozoite?
motile, flagellated, undulating membrane, 3 anterior flagella (10-26 um x 3-15 um)
Are there approved treatments for Tritrichomonas?
no, but Metronidazole has shown some efficacy
What are some control methods for Tritrichomonas?
control animal movement, test bulls annually (or before introducing to herd), AI, Cull positive cows, vaccinate females
What species does Tritrichomonas blagburni (foetus) infect?
cats
What is the likely transmission route of T. blagburni?
fecal-oral
Pathogenesis of feline Trichomoniasis:
large bowel inflammation (chronic diarrhea/relapes, hemorrhagic/mucoid stool)
What is the problem with treating feline trichomoniasis?
most unsuccessful (ronidazole is the treatment of choice)
What is the transmission for feline trichomoniasis?
cat to cat (grooming, litter boxes, feed, water); trophozoite survival
Site of infection in pigs with Tritrichomonas foetus:
stomach, colon, nasal passages (no pathology)
Site of infectioin in dogs with Tritrichomonas foetus:
LI (pathology - diarrhea)
What are the hosts for Trichomonas gallinae?
wide range of avian species
Trichomonas gallinae location in host:
primarily upper GI tract, extraintestinal
What are the characteristics of the Trichomonas gallinae trophozoite?
4 anterior flagella, undulating membrane, axostyle, single nucleus, no cyst stage, 5-9 um x 2-9 um
What is the life cycle of trichomonas gallinae (3 steps)?
trophozoites introduced orally –> divide (longitudinal binary fission) –> passed to next host orally
Routes of Infection for T. gallinae (4):
mother to offspring (regurgitation), water/feed contamination, predator/prey, courtship
What bird species is a reservoir host for Trichomonas gallinae?
pigeons
Pathology of Trichomonas gallinae (4):
upper GI tract (invade mucosal surface), caseous lesions, secondary infection, strain differences
Diagnosing T. gallinae (3):
gross lesion in throat, direct smear, histopath
Tx for T. gallinae
dimetronidazole (not available in US)
What two types of nuclei are seen in the ciliophora phylum?
macronucleus, micronucleus
List the 5 characteristics of Phylum Ciliophora:
two types of nuclei, ciliated body, food ingested through cytosome, reproduces by binary fission, majority are free livinig
What is the largest parasitic protozoan in humans?
balantidium coli (only ciliate known to parasitize humans)
What are the hosts for Balantidium coli?
pigs (primarily), humans, primates, horses, cows, rodents