W10 : Parasites Flashcards
Core concepts
What are the different types of hosts for parasites? [4]
- Intermediate host
- Definitive (final) host
- Accidental host
- Incidental (dead-end) host.
Core concepts
What is an intermediate host?
An organism in which a parasite undergoes development or an asexual phase but does not reach sexual maturity. It supports the immature or non-reproductive forms of the parasite.
Core concepts
What is a definitive host?
The organism in which a parasite reaches maturity and undergoes sexual reproduction.
Core concepts
What is an accidental host?
A host in which the parasite does not typically live, but it can still harbor the parasite. The parasite usually fails to fully develop or reproduce but can cause symptoms, tissue damage, or immune responses.
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- Because conditions for development and reproduction are suboptimal, they tend to move all around the body to find a good place to survive
Core concepts
What is an incidental (dead-end) host?
A host that shelters the parasite, but the parasite cannot be transmitted to other hosts, preventing the parasite from completing its life cycle.
Core concepts
What is an oocyst?
A cyst (infectious form of the parasite) containing a zygote (egg) formed by a parasitic protozoan. It is an immature, “resting” stage that sporulates in 5-12 days outside the body (in external environment) to become infectious.
Types of parasites
Name the 4 main categories of parasites relevant to food safety.
- Tapeworms (cestodes)
- Roundworms (nematodes)
- flukes (trematodes)
- protozoa
Types of parasites
Name the 4 main categories of parasites relevant to food safety.
- Tapeworms (cestodes)
- Roundworms (nematodes)
- flukes (trematodes)
- protozoa
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How do tapeworms develop in the human body?
Humans ingest larvae of tapeworms from food sources like meat. Tapeworms have both female and male reproductive organs in 1 worm, and start maturing (full development) and reproducing in the GI tract.
Types of parasites : tapeworms
After entering the body, how do tapeworms cause illness in humans? What common symptoms do they cause?
Tapeworms reproduce and mature in the small intestines, and attach to intestinal walls. They can grow up to several metres long, absorbing nutrients and potentially causing weight loss, abdominal pain and digestive disturbances.
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- Also, passing of proglottoids (segments of tapeworm, reproductive structure) in feces, which may contain eggs.
Types of parasites : tapeworms
In adults, most tapeworm infections show symptoms. True or false?
False. Most cases are asymptomatic
Types of parasites : tapeworms
What are the names for:
1. Beef tapeworm
2. Pork tapeworm
- Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm)
- Taenia solium (pork tapeworm)
Types of parasites : tapeworms
Who are the final / definite hosts for Taenia Solium?
Humans
Types of parasites : tapeworms
In the case of Taenia Solium infection, what is the characteristic disease that may form?
Human cysticerosis
- Humans are accidental hosts, T.solium does not usually infect humans (usually pigs)
- So T.solium tapeworms will go all over the human body to find a suitable living area –> formation of cysts in varioys parts of the body –> causing symptoms including seizures
Types of parasites : tapeworms
Human Cysticerosis can result from T solium. What are the 2 modes of transmission?
1) Consumption of food or water contaminated with eggs of T solium. Eggs hatch and larvae migrate to various parts of body to form cysts.
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2) Some people with intestinal tapeworms infect themselves with eggs from their own feces due to poor personal hygiene. (can be transmitted from human to human to cause cysticercosis where eggs are ingested;; but rare. Usually person infect themselves)
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How long does it takes for symptoms of human cysticercosis to appear?
Weeks to years after infection
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How to diagnose Taeniasis?
Microscopic examination of eggs / proglottids in feces.
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Note : extreme care must be taken in processing samples!! Ingesting eggs can lead to cycsticerosis
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How to treat Taeniasis?
Drugs
1. Praziquantel
2. Albendazole
Praziquantel and albendazole are common drugs in treating parasite infections. How do they work?
Praziquantel : causing severe spasms and paralysis of the worms’ muscles.
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Albendazole : prevents worm from absorbing sugar (glucose), causing it to lose energy and die
Types of parasites : tapeworms
What is the name of the largest human tapeworm?
Diphyllobothrium latum (fish tapeworm)
Types of parasites : tapeworms
Who are the :
1. Intermediate hosts
2. final / definite hosts for Diphyllobothrium latum?
- Fish (intermediate host)
- Fish-eating mammals (incl human) and birds (final host)
Types of parasites : tapeworms
Diphyllbothrium latum causes an illness called diphyllobothriasis. In which parts of the world does diphyllobothriasis occur?
Europe, N America , Asia where lakes and rivers co-exist.
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How long does the infection from Diphyllobothrium latum last?
Very long lasting.
Types of parasites : tapeworms
What are the characteristic symptoms of Diphyllobothriasis? [3]
1) Vitamin B12 deficiency and anemia in heavy / prolonged infestation.
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Migration of proglottids can cause:
2) cholecystitis : inflammation of gallbladder
3) cholangitis : inflammation of bile ducts
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How to diagnose Diphyllobothrium latum?
Microscopic examination of eggs on stool sample
Types of parasites : tapeworms
What are the 2 effective drugs for killing Diphyllobothrium latum?
Praziquantel
Niclosamide
Worms can survive > 25 years in intestine, need effective drugs
Types of parasites : tapeworms
How to prevent Diphyllobothrium lactim?
Do not eat raw / undercooked fish dishes.
Types of parasites : roundworms
How do roundworms grow in the human body?
intestinal phase
Through ingestion of eggs or larvae. When roundworms mature and grow out of larvae, they can multiply by sexually reproducing with each other in the GI tract. (intestinal phase)
Types of parasites : roundworms
After the roundworm develops into an adult in the intestine (i.e. after the intestinal phase), what happens next and what kinds of symptoms do roundworms cause?
Roundworms usually migrate out of the small intestine into other organs like muscle, eyes, and can even impact the **central nervous system. **
- This causes symptoms such as muscle aches, joint pain, eye swelling.
bc human are incidental / accidental hosts, worm dont usually survive in human body. so worm want to migrate out of intestine to find more suitable conditions to survive.
Types of parasites : roundworms
For roundworms, Anisakis and Trichinella Spiralis, humans serve as the final / definitive host. True or False?
False. For Anisakis, marine animals are the definitive hosts where L3 larvae develop into adults (but humans usually consume the larvae). For Trichinella Spiralis, pigs / wild animals like bears are the definitive hosts.
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In both cases, humans are accidental and dead-end hosts.
- Accidental/incidental : roundworms usually don’t reside in humans
- Dead end hosts : The larvae cannot fully develop and reach sexual maturity, usually die within 3 weeks after infection
Types of parasites : roundworms
Infection by Anisakis is caused by consumption of what kind of food?
Seafood : ocean fish and cephalopods (cod, pacific salmon, squid etc)
Types of parasites : roundworms
What are the symptoms of Anisakiasis (infection by Anisakis)? [3 = 1 common + 2 characteristic symptoms]
Acute abdominal pain
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Characteristic symptoms
- tingling / tickling sensation in throat and coughs up the roundworm (nematode)
- may provoke life-threatening allergic reactions as larval nematodes burrow (hide) into gastric mucosa (stomach lining)
Types of parasites : roundworms
How long does it take for symptoms of Anisakiasis to show?
1 hour to 2 weeks after consuming seafood.
Types of parasites : roundworms
How to diagnose Anisakiasis? [2]
- Conduct a morphological exam of worms coughed up
- Endoscopic exam and extraction of worm from stomach
Types of parasites : roundworms
How to treat Anisakasis, under less severe and more severe conditions?
For less severe cases, anthelmintic drugs have been used with some success, but the worm will die and get passed out of body eventually.
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For more severe pain, endoscopic removal is the best treatment.
Types of parasites : roundworms
How to prevent Anisakiasis? [3]
- Sufficient cooking to inactivate worms
- Freezing and cooking to kill Anisakis Simplex (the larvae/baby version of the worm)
- Do not eat raw / undercooked fish and squid