Medical Microbiology Flashcards
What is the epidemiology of Malaria?
Sub-Saharan Africa (Lesotho being the exception, South Asia.
Plasmodium Falciparum causes the most common infections.
What is meant by Odyssean Malaria?
Transportation of mosquitoes to non-endemic areas.
Describe P. Falciparum.
Worldwide
Sup-tropical and tropical region
Most mortality
10-21 days
Describe P.Vivax.
Temperate to sub-tropical
Latency as hypnozoite for years
amoeboid in nature (trophozoite)
12 months
Describe P. Ovale
Africa- west
Commonest Non-falciparum infection
Hypnozoite for months to years
Cells- oval shape
12 months
Describe P. Malariae.
Worldwide
mildest
Chronic infection (untreated)
Nephrotic syndrome Ag-Ab GBM
12 months
Describe P.Knowlesi.
Monkey parasite
severe humans
Morphologically like P. malariae
South East asia
Describe the mechanism of clinical symptoms in malarial disease.
Rupture of RBC
Cytokine release from the host
Cytoadherence to endothelium
Describe Tropical Splenomegaly syndrome.
Hyper-reactive malarial splenomegaly
Large spleens, liver, anaemia
P Vivax can rupture the spleen.
What is hyperparasitaemia?
A parasite count of > 4% of red blood cells parasitized is treated as severe malaria
In terms of malaria, describe how to do a blood smear.
Giemsa stain
Thick- diagnosis
Thin- species
Describe how the rapid diagnostic test works
Parasite Ag- histidine-rich protein 2
lactate dehydrogenase
aldolase
How do we treat extrahepatic phases?
artermether-lumefantrine
How do you treat the hepatic stage?
Primaquine
Name the IV treatment for Severe malaria.
artesunate
