Intro to Parasites & Platyhelminthes Flashcards
1
Q
CDC top 5 neglected parasitic infections in the US
A
- Chagas – caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
- Cysticercosis – caused by Taenia spp
- Toxocariasis – caused by Toxocara canis or cati. Causes blindness.
- Toxoplasmosis – caused by Toxoplasma gondii. 2nd leading cause of food-borne deaths in US.
- Trichomoniasis – caused by Trichomonas vaginalis
2
Q
Th1 response against?
A
Protozoans
3
Q
Th2 / eosinophilic response against?
A
Worms
4
Q
Cyst
A
Dormant stage found encysted in a host (intermediate or definitive)
5
Q
Hydatid
A
Specialized cysticercal form of cestode Echinococcus granulosus found in intermediate host, including humans, sheep, and ungulates.
6
Q
Cestoda Type of parasite Digestive system Attachment Morphology Transmission
A
- Flatworms / Tapeworms. Flattened segmented bodies.
- No internal digestive system. Nutrients absorbed across cuticle.
- Attaches to gut wall via scolex
- Proglottids = segments. Mature from anterior to posterior. Specialized for hermaphroditic reproduction.
- Transmitted by ingestion of larval cysticerci or eggs
7
Q
Trematoda Type of parasite Digestive system Required intermediate host Attachment Reproduction (tissue vs blood flukes)
A
- Flukes w/ broad flattened bodies.
- Mainly affect the lungs, liver, and blood
- Simple digestive system. Single opening serves as mouth and anus.
- Requires 1 or more intermediate host, which always involves a snail.
- Have 2 suckers for attachment and locomotion.
- Tissue flukes reproduce hermaphroditically
- Blood flukes reproduce sexually and have sexually dimorphic forms.
8
Q
Pork / Beef Tapeworm Names Location (adults vs cysticerci) Definitive host Intermediate host Life cycle Prevention
A
- Pork = Taenia solium
- Beef = Taenia saginata
- Location: adults in intestine. Cysticerci found in any tissue.
- Definitive host: humans. Shed eggs and proglottids in feces.
- Intermediate host: pigs or humans for T solium. Only cattle for T saginata.
- Life cycle: Proglottids are full of eggs. Break off → stool. Cows / pigs eat stool, spread in blood and encysts in animal tissues. Human eats undercooked beef / pork → cysticercus evaginates and lives in human intestine. Individual worm may live 25 years.
- Prevention: cook / freeze pork / beef. Hygiene.
9
Q
T solium transmission
A
- Human ingestion of cyticerci in undercooked muscles of pigs → worms in gut (taeniasis).
- Human ingestion of eggs (may occur via autoinfection) → cysticercosis in muscle, brain, eyes, etc.
- Both forms can occur in same person due to autoinfection.
10
Q
T saginata transmission
A
Ingestion of undercooked beef containing cysticerci (encysted larvae)
11
Q
Difference in transmission b/w T solium / saginata
A
T solium eggs are infections for humans. T saginata eggs are not.
12
Q
Taenia Pathology
A
- Often asymptomatic. Abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss. Superinfection can cause obstruction.
- Cysticercosis (T solium) = 1 cm cysticerci located in any tissue.
- Muscle cysts may cause lumps but no sxs
- Neurocysticercosis – sxs depend on where / how many cysticerci. Confusion, poor balance, hydrocephalus, seizures, headaches, death.
13
Q
Taenia Diagnosis (4)
A
- Observation of proglottids / eggs in stool. Discriminate T solium from T saginata from proglottids. Eggs are indistinguishable.
- Contrast studies show ribbon-like structures in intestine
- Cysticercosis: X ray shows calcified dead larvae. CT/MRI shows viable cysticerci
- CDC does immunoblot (Ab) w/ T solium Ag
14
Q
Taenia Treatment (4)
A
- Praziquantel, niclosamide, or albendazole for adult worms. Prolonged therapy for cysticerci.
- T solium: Dexamethasone reduces CNS inflammation that often occurs due to large inflammatory response from dying cysticerci.
15
Q
Fish Tapeworm Name Location Transmission Definitive host Intermediate host Endemic areas Pathology Diagnosis Treatment (3) Prevention
A
- Diphyllobothrium latum
- Location: lumen of intestine
- Transmission: ingestion of undercooked fish w/ plerocercoid (encysted larvae). No autoinfection as in Taenia.
- Definitive host: humans
- Intermediate host: copepod (crustacean) that infects fish
- Found in temperate zones where fish is major part of diet
- Pathology – Similar to beef tapeworm, but adult absorbs 80-100% of Vit B12 → anemia / neuro sxs
- Diagnosis – same as Taenia. Easily discriminated from Taenia by egg and proglottid. Clinical sxs of anemia.
- Treatment – Praziquntel or niclosamide. B12 supplements.
- Prevention – Hygiene, well cooked / frozen fish