Malaria DTM&H for brainspace Flashcards
(131 cards)
Malaria Lab RBC enlarged
Pv Po
Malaria Lab Multiple trophozoites
Pf
Malaria Lab Maurer’s clefts Pf
few, unevenly distributed
Malaria Lab Schuffner’s dots Pv
many, evenly distributed
Malaria Lab Fimbriation
Po
Malaria Lab Lifecycle (exoerythrocytic human)
Malaria-infected female Anopheles mosquito inoculates sporozoites into human host dermis during blood meal, sporozoites migrate to blood stream, infect liver cells, mature into schizonts which rupture and release merozoites, Pv & Po have hypnozoites that can persist and cause relapse (sporozoite > schizonts > merozoites)
Malaria Lab Life cycle (erythrocytic human)
Merozoites infect RBC, ring stage troph mature into schizonts which rupture releasing merozoites, most infect RBC continuing the cycle, some differentiate into sexual stage (gametocytes) esp as the human host becomes unwell (merozoites > troph > schizonts > merozoites OR gametocytes)
Malaria Lab Life cycle (mosquito)
Female Anopheles takes blood meal from human ingesting female and male gametes, change in temperature inside mosquito -> fertilisation, motile ookinete penetrates midgut epithelium and differentiates into oocyst, sporozoites develop in oocyst, mature oocyst ruptures (2w), releasing motile sporozoites migrate to salivary glands awaiting blood meal. (gametocytes > zygotes > ookinetes > oocyst > sporozoites) Female anopheles must take a blood meal every 2-4 days to reproduce
Malaria Lab Counting parasitaemia
Percentage of RBC infected (not no. of parasites). Want to count 2000 RBC, on x100 look within field where RBC do not overlap and count eight consecutive fields - count downwards as the density of the field will remain similar. Eg. 9 in 8 fields is 9 in 2000 is 4.5 in 1000, is 0.45 in 100 fields, is 0.45%
Malaria Lab Microscopy
Brain: haemorrhage (orange areas), vessels that look dark, classic feature is ‘ring haemorrhage’ with capillary in centre - black dots stuck to capillary wall are schizonts - usually peripheral RBC sticking and block the capillaries, Liver tissue looks less tidy than normal liver. Pigment in sinusoidal spaces (within Kuppfer cells) not within hepatocytes. Will not see parasites, just evidence of macrophage clearing up. Liver is engorged
Malaria Lab Peripheral blood stages
All present for Pv, Po, Pm. Mature troph of Pf tend to be sequestered in deep vessels
Malaria Epidemiology
Treatable tropical disease, estimated 608,000 deaths and 249 million cases in 2022. Endemic through Mexico, Northern South America, sub-Saharan and southern Africa, South and SE Asia. Lowest income countries are disproportionately the countries where Malaria is seen and deaths occur
Malaria Deaths
Over half of malaria deaths are in four countries: Nigeria, DRC, Niger, Tanzania
Malaria Stalled progress
Since 2013/14 progress against preventing malaria diseases have stalled as the money eliminated malaria from the ‘easy’ countries, places where there was intermittent transmission, countries with more political stability and money in their healthcare system, or countries such as Sri Lanka which is an island nation – easier to control the migration into and out of the countries and an easy barrier for mosquitos. Elimination is removing from an area or region, Eradication is completely getting rid of it. Malaria is not a human-specific disease and zoonotic spill over makes eradication almost impossible for Pk which has animal reservoir (macaque monkeys). Progress has stalled due to COVID-related disruptions, health systems challenges, humanitarian crises, limited funding, effects of climate change, insecticide & artemisinin resistance and invasion of Anopheles stephensi
Malaria Pathogenesis
Symptoms develop once parasitaemia rises above a certain threshold. Threshold depends on underlying immunity (influenced by endemicity, transmission intensity, and the age of the patient) Periodic fever spikes correspond to erythrocytic cycle, and synchronisation of developmental stages (these are rarely observed now). Erythrocytic cycle is the only part of the cycle that causes disease symptoms. Asexual cycle time of different Plasmodium species gives characteristic cycling fevers. 24h Pk, 48h Pf, Pv, Po, 72h Pm
Malaria Cerebral malaria
Adherence or sequestration of RBC -> inflammation, microvascular obstruction -> hypoxic brain tissue, disruption of BBB -> oedema and haemorrhage, parenchymal and axonal damage. Similar mechanism in placenta with adhesion -> growth restriction (mild) or fetal and maternal demise (severe). CFR 10-40% Clinical features: impaired consciousness, retinopathy (retinal whitening, discolouration of retinal vessels, retinal haemorrhages and papilloedema), convulsions common (can be subclinical), increased ICP (>80% of children,), cerebral oedema (more common in children)
Malaria Severe malaria
- Haemolysis of infected RBC -> decreased O2 carrying capacity, rosetting of RBC -> bystander haemolysis. 2. Metabolic acidosis (poor prognostic sign) -> impaired vasoregulation, platelet clumping, lactic acidosis, inflammation. 3. Hypoglycaemia due to N&V, fasting, quinine, metabolic acidosis. 4. AKI 5. Bacteraemia (higher risk in children, esp non-typhi Salmonella) 6. Jaundice, DIC and shock - cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmias uncommon
Malaria Severe anaemia
Common (esp African children), Hb <50 in children, <70 in adults. Multifactorial (spleen filters infected and damaged uninfected RBCs, intravascular haemolysis, bone marrow suppression, repeated malaria infection), other contributors: HIV, bacterial infections, hookworm, B12/vitA deficiency. The major cause of severe malarial anaemia is loss of uninfected RBCs and suppression of bone marrow (unlike the assumption that it would be the lysis of pRBCs). changes to the plasma membrane of uninfected RBCs during malaria infection targets these cells for destruction in the spleen. Erythropoiesis failure is caused by haemozoin (breakdown product of Hb by parasite), suppressive cytokines, hepcidin and migration inhibitory factor expressed by the parasite
Malaria PfEMP1
Plasmodium falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 - immune evasion molecule (60 var genes) cytoadhesion and provides target for human immune system. Host immune system mounts response, but parasite regularly switches var genes (process not well understood) but allows the parasite to stay ahead of the immune system
Malaria Pf gametocytes
Lose sensitivity to antimalaria drugs as they mature. Asymptomatic gametocyte carriers are a significant problem for malaria control and eradication (as are recovering patients) as they are highly infectious to mosquitoes. Sexual dimorphism: 80% F 20% M. Change in temperature in the mosquito triggers fertilisation and development of zygote
Malaria Hypnozoites
Liver form of Pv Po - stay as dormant stage (not well understood) days to months/years - occasionally releases sporozoites into bloodstream with resurgence of sx. Pv especially causes social disadvantage due to recurrent infections. Treat with Primaquine (toxic and need to test G6PD)
Malaria Prevention efforts (human)
Vaccinate against surface of sporozoite - could prevent invasion of hepatocytes - need lots of boosters and response not durable. RTS,S approved by WHO in Oct 2021 (targets CSP of Pf, efficacy 36% clinical malaria, 32% severe malaria
Malaria Prevention efforts (mosquito)
IRS Indoor residual spraying Insecticides, LLIN long-lasting insecticide bed nets, sterile genetically-modified mosquitoes
Malaria Prevention efforts (what’s needed)
WHO guidelines to address challenges (contain drug resistance, urban malaria control, stop spread of An stephensi), Innovation and accelerate research & development (RTS,S vaccine, LLINs, new types of vector control, new diagnostics and medicines). Strengthen health systems and increased coverage of current malaria control tools. Ensure robust global malaria funding