Zoonotic helminths

Question 1

What is the issue with zoonotic helminths?

Answer 1

Humans are dead end hosts however, the parasites can still cause damage

Question 2

What is the treatment of choice for most of the zoonotic helminths?

Answer 2

Albendazole

Question 3

Zoonotic helminth presenting with liver granulomas, hepatosplenomegaly, eosinophilia, fever and retinal granulomas?

Answer 3

Toxocara canis

Toxocaris caused by local inflammation in tissue despite humans being paratenic host

Question 4

Child presenting with unilateral visual loss

Answer 4

Toxocara canis/cati

In OLM, the larvae produce various ophthalmologic lesions, and may cause diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis (DUSN). Involvement is typically unilateral (affecting one eye) and associated visual impairment usually presents with uveitis, retinitis, or endophthalmitis.

Question 5

Diagnosis of Toxocara and Rx?

Answer 5

∆ - histology of tissue, can do an ELISA
Mx - albendazole

Question 6

Differential of visceral larval migrans? (Toxocara)

Answer 6

Baylisascariasis

From racoons

Question 7

What is the dog/cat hook worm and how does it present? What is the problem with it?

Answer 7

Ancylostoma

Ancylostoma brazilense, A.caninum, A.ceylanicum, and Uncinaria stenocephala

Cutaneous larva migrans - moves around skin, and can harbour a bacterial infection

Question 8

Which 2 helminths do you get from eating raw fish? How would you differentiate them?

Answer 8

Anisakiasis
Gnathostomiasis
Capillariasis - Capillaria phillipinensis

Gnathostomiasis - migratory cutaenous lesions - Causes haemorrhage as it migrates due to its sharp edges

Question 9

What species of zoonotic helminth causes leptomeningitis?

Answer 9

Angiostrongylis

Question 10

What is the other name for the rat lungworm?

Answer 10

Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Question 11

Which zoonotic helminth causes necrosis in lungs and lives in the right ventricle following infection from fly bite?

Answer 11

Dirofilarae - Dirofilaria immitis and other species

Filariasis in dogs
Dies in lung of human - necrotic reaction

Question 12

How do most of the zoonotic helminths affect humans?

Answer 12

Gastointersinal disease, diarrhoea, malabsorption, eosinophilia

Question 13

Which zoonotic helminth causes painful blisters on the legs?

Answer 13

Guinea worm
* Dracunculiasis

Question 14

Which zoonotic helminth causes muscle problems - muscle pain, swelling, periorbital oedema, myocarditis?

How do you contract it?

Answer 14

Trichinella spiralis

Eating pig meat (in muscle of pigs)

Question 15

How do you ∆ most of the zoonotic helminths?

Answer 15

histology of specimen
Eosinophils

Question 16

How do you treat eosinophilic meningitis caused by a parasite?

Answer 16

Steroids
Do not give antiparasitics

Question 17

What is the name of the lung rat worm?

Answer 17

Angiostrongylus cantonensis

Question 18

What is the name for the zoonotic Helminth commonly contracted from walking on beach causing larva migrants?

Answer 18

Ancylostoma braziliensis

Question 19

30 year old man eating raw fish in California. Worm seen within the fish. Organism?

Answer 19

Anisakis simplex

Question 20

Dermatitis on legs with worms emerging from lesions. Organism?

Answer 20

Dracunculus medienensis

Question 21

Hamoptysis and cough with necrotic lesion on CXR?

Answer 21

Dirofilaria immitus

Question 22

Hamoptysis and cough with necrotic lesion on CXR?

Answer 22

Dirofilaria immitus

Question 23

Migrating rash with haemorrhagic marks on abdomen after eating sushi. Organism?

Answer 23

Gnathostoma spinigerum