Human Pathogenic Protists Overview of Diseases Flashcards
1
Q
Giardia Intestinalis (Giardia Lamblia)
A
- Supergroup : Excavates
- Subgroup : Diplomonads
- Diplomonads characteristics : flagellated protozoa with modified mitochondria (mitosomes)
- Pathogenic parasite : causes gastroenteritis (food poisoning)
- Transmission : food-borne disease
2
Q
Trichomonas vaginalis
A
- Supergroup : Excavates
- Subgroup : Parabasalids
- Parabasalids characteristics : flagellated protozoa with modified mitochondria (hydrogenosomes)
- Pathogenic parasite : causes vaginitis in women & urethritis in men
- Transmission : sexually transmitted (STD)
3
Q
Trypanosoma Bruce
A
- Supergroup : Excavates
- Subgroup : Euglenozoans Kinetoplastids
- African trypanosomiasis : causes sleeping sickness in humans
- CNS infection –> lethargy, coma, death
- Transmission : tsetse fly
4
Q
Trypanosoma cruzi
A
- Supergroup : Excavates
- Subgroup : Euglenozoans Kinetoplastids
- American trypanosomiasis : Chaga’s disease
- Symptoms : chronic myocardiopathy
- Transmission : triatomine bugs
5
Q
Plasmodium malariae
A
- Supergroup : Alveolates
- Subgroup : Apicomplexans
- causes malaria
- Transmission : mosquitoes
- Reproduction in the RBC –> haemoglobin digestion –> natural selection favoured selective survival of the thalassaemia allele carriers (heterozygotes) in areas with high prevalence of malaria
- 900,000 deaths/year
6
Q
Toxoplasma gondii
A
- Supergroup : Alveolates
- Subgroup : Apicomplexans
- causes toxoplasmosis
- Transmission :
- Oral-faeval route
- by consuming contaminated raw/undercooked meat
- by ingestion of faecally contaminated food
- Trans-placenta transmission
- from mother to foetus
- can cause abortion, hydrocephalus, mental retardation of foetus
- Oral-faeval route
7
Q
Phytophthora infestans
A
- Supergroup : Stramenopiles
- Subgroup : Oomycetes
- causes potato blight
8
Q
Phytophthora ramorum
A
- Supergroup : Stramenopiles
- Subgroup : Oomycetes
- causes oak death
