Chapter 8: Other Protists Flashcards
Ixodes scapularis
Ticks that are the vectors for Babesia microti in the US
Atovaquone
Used along with azithromycin for 7 to 10 days for individuals showing symptoms of babesiosis
Peromyscus leucopus
The white-footed mouse that is a host for Babesia microti
The natural reservior
Borrelia burdorferi
The bacterial spirochete responsible for Lyme’s disease and has the same reservior and vector as Babesia microti
Bebesiosis symptoms
Flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, sweats, body aches, loss of appetite, fatigue
Toxoplasmosis
Caused by Toxoplasma gondii
mostly asymptomatic but can cause behavioral change and congenital birth defects
Humans can become infected with T. gondii
ingesting food or water contaminated with cat feces
consuming meat with tissue cysts
Blood transfusion or organ transplant
Transplacentally
Enteroepithelial Phase (T. gondii)
After ingestion of cysts, the cyst wall is destroyed
Bradyzoites settle within enterocytes, undergo schizogony
Sexual development then occurs
Intermediate Host Life Cycle (T. gondii)
Sporozoites are liberated after oocyst ingestion
Become tachyzoites which then invade cells and become parasitophorous vacuole
Bradyzoites result from tachyzoite slow-dividing stage and form tissue cysts
T. gondii symptoms with no underlying conditions
flu-like symptoms like lymphadenopathy, fever, headache, muscle pain/body ache, tissue damage
T. gondii symptoms with underlying conditions
o Headache, confusion, poor coordination, seizures, lung problems that may resemble tuberculosis or Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, blurred vision
T. gondii in babies
Most at risk during third trimester, but less serious affects
Diagnosis T. gondii
Serologic tests
PCR
Xenodiagnosis
Biopsy or histologic demonstration of parasite and/or antigens
Treatment T. gondii
Pyrimethamine (Daraprim)
Sulfadiazine
Spiramycin
Crypto
Diarrheal disease occurring in sporadic outbreaks
