Week 3 - Kinetoplastea and Trypanosomatidae /flotation methods

Question 1

What are kinetoplastids?

Answer 1

They are free-living or parasitic protozoa with 1-2 flagella and kinetoplasts (mitochondrial DNA structure).

Question 2

What are the two medically significant genera of kinetoplastids?

Answer 2

Leishmania (leishmaniasis) and Trypanosoma (trypanosomiasis).

Question 3

What key structures are found in kinetoplastids?

Answer 3

Kinetoplast, undulating membrane, and flagella.

Question 4

What enables immune evasion in kinetoplastids?

Answer 4

Variable surface glycoproteins (VSGs).

Question 5

What are the two main groups of Trypanosoma?

Answer 5

Salivaria and Stercoraria.

Question 6

What is the vector for the Salivaria group?

Answer 6

Tsetse flies (Glossina).

Question 7

Name a disease caused by the Salivaria group in humans and its causative species.

Answer 7

Sleeping sickness caused by T. brucei gambiense (chronic) and T. brucei rhodesiense (acute).

Question 8

What is the vector for the Stercoraria group?

Answer 8

Triatomine bugs (kissing bugs).

Question 9

What disease is associated with the Stercoraria group?

Answer 9

Chagas Disease (T. cruzi).

Question 10

What are common symptoms of Nagana in animals?

Answer 10

Anemia, fever, emaciation, and eventual death.

Question 11

What are the phases of Chagas Disease in humans?

Answer 11

1. Acute: Mild-severe symptoms.
2. Chronic: Long latency with heart disease and megasyndromes.

Question 12

What diagnostic methods are used for trypanosomiasis?

Answer 12

Microscopic examination (Giemsa-stained blood smears), ELISA, PCR, and concentration techniques.

Question 13

How can trypanosomiasis be controlled in animals?

Answer 13

Using drugs like diminazene and melarsomine, and vector control through insecticides and fly traps.

Question 14

What are the main treatments for human trypanosomiasis?

Answer 14

Chemotherapy with drugs like nifurtimox and benznidazole.

Question 15

What is Dourine, and how is it transmitted?

Answer 15

Equine trypanosomiasis caused by T. equiperdum, transmitted via coitus.

Question 16

How is Dourine controlled?

Answer 16

Breeding control, quarantine, and prevention of horse movement.

Question 17

What is the purpose of flotation methods in parasitology?

Answer 17

To detect parasite eggs and cysts in fecal samples by exploiting differences in specific gravity.

Question 18

What are some common flotation fluids and their specific gravity?

Answer 18

1. Faust (33% ZnSO4) - 1.18: For protozoan parasites in carnivores.
2. Kozák-Mágra - 1.24: For cestode/nematode eggs in carnivores and poultry.
3. Breza - 1.3: For larger animals like ruminants and horses.

Question 19

What are the steps in the flotation method? (4)

Answer 19

1. Mix 3g of feces with water (15-20ml) to form a suspension.
2. Filter and centrifuge the sample for 2 minutes at 2500 rpm.
3. Discard the supernatant and add flotation solution.
4. Resuspend sediment, centrifuge again, and collect surface material for microscopic examination.

Question 20

How is infection severity assessed using flotation methods?

Answer 20

+: Up to 5 eggs per drop.

++: Up to 10 eggs per drop.

+++: More than 10 eggs per drop.