Other Protozoa 1

Question 1

What are the basic groups containing parasitic protozoa?

Answer 1

Apicomplexa, Sarcomastigophora, Ciliophora

Question 2

What are the characteristics of Apicomplexa organisms?

Answer 2

Have an apical complex which helps orient the organism toward the host; moves via gliding.

Question 3

How do organisms of the group Sarcomastigophora move?

Answer 3

Pseudopodiae or flagella for movement.

Question 4

How do organisms of the Ciliophora group move?

Answer 4

Have cilia.

Question 5

Balantidum coli belongs to what group of protozoa?

Answer 5

Ciliophora.

Question 6

What species are affected by B. coli?

Answer 6

Occurs in humans, cattle, pigs, horses; possible reservoirs in pigs.

Question 7

What are the two forms that the organism B. coli takes?

Answer 7

Trophozoite: growing form with cilia; Cyst: stage which walls itself off within the protective cyst.

Question 8

B. coli is more prevalent in which type of climate?

Answer 8

Warmer ones.

Question 9

Describe the infective status of B. coli.

Answer 9

Fecal oral route; waterborne; occasionally causes symptomatic disease called Balantidiasis.

Question 10

Describe the prevalence of B. coli in pigs.

Answer 10

Up to 100%; higher in intensive systems.

Question 11

Describe Acanthamoeba spp.

Answer 11

Environmental free-living protozoan that sometimes causes problems as an opportunistic pathogen.

Question 12

What is the disease associated with Acanthamoeba spp?

Answer 12

Contact lens associated dermatitis; can cause neurological signs if it spreads beyond the eye.

Question 13

What is the phylum Sarcomastigophora named for?

Answer 13

The two groups: Sarcodina and Mastigophora.

Question 14

Are organisms of the phylum Sarcomastigophora intracellular or extracellular?

Answer 14

Tend to be extracellular.

Question 15

Most of the organisms of veterinary importance within the phylum Sarcomastigophora are within which group?

Answer 15

Mastigophora; variable degrees of pathogenicity.

Question 16

What are the infection sites of organisms of the phylum Sarcomastigophora?

Answer 16

Mastigophora: mucosal surfaces usually in digestive or reproductive tract; Sarcodina: blood and lymph.

Question 17

What are the important genera to know within the mucosoflagellates?

Answer 17

Giardia, Trichomonas/Tritrichomonas, Histomonas.

Question 18

What are the important species within the genus Giardia?

Answer 18

G. lamblia, G. duodenalis, G. intestinalis.

Question 19

What are the assemblages of Giardia and how are they classified?

Answer 19

8 assemblages from A to H based on prevalence in humans.

Question 20

Most human infections of Giardia come from which assemblages?

Answer 20

A and B.

Question 21

Most cattle infections of Giardia come from which assemblages?

Answer 21

A and E.

Question 22

What is the most common species in terms of zoonotic transmission of Giardia?

Answer 22

Horses.

Question 23

What region does Giardia infect within the host?

Answer 23

GIT.

Question 24

Describe the host range of Giardia.

Answer 24

Very broad host range; found pretty much everywhere.

Question 25

Taxonomy and links to pathogenicity of Giardia are ________ and __________.

Answer 25

Confusing and complex.

Question 26

Which stage of Giardia are you most likely to see in practice?

Answer 26

Most commonly will see cyst stage; trophozoite stage is fragile.

Question 27

Which stage of Giardia has the classical flagellated appearance?

Answer 27

Only trophozoite stages.

Question 28

How do Giardia infections usually occur?

Answer 28

Through ingestion of dormant cysts from drinking water or food sources.

Question 29

What animals are most susceptible to infection by Giardia?

Answer 29

Young animals.

Question 30

In terms of Giardia, __________ is much more common than ________.

Answer 30

Infection is much more common than disease; majorly asymptomatic.

Question 31

Giardia has zoonotic potential via what sources?

Answer 31

Water, food, and direct contact.

Question 32

Describe the attachment/pathogenicity of Giardia.

Answer 32

Attachment to intestinal mucosal layer; villous atrophy seen with infection.

Question 33

Giardia infections can be hard to clear. Why?

Answer 33

Evasion of host immune responses due to complex evolution.

Question 34

What is the pre-patent period of giardiasis?

Answer 34

Up to 3 weeks.

Question 35

Describe the symptoms of giardiasis.

Answer 35

Varies from asymptomatic to acute diarrhea, steatorrhoea, and dehydration.

Question 36

Villous atrophy caused by giardiasis results in what?

Answer 36

Compromised absorption of micronutrients such as vitamin B12.

Question 37

What are the methods of diagnosis of giardiasis?

Answer 37

Fecal float in zinc sulphate, copro-antigen ELISA, PCR.

Question 38

Why is a fecal float not the best choice for diagnosis of giardiasis?

Answer 38

Cysts are easier seen than trophozoites, but still difficult.

Question 39

What is the treatment for giardiasis?

Answer 39

Fenbendazole and albendazole, along with metronidazole.

Question 40

What are the methods of control for giardiasis?

Answer 40

Hygiene, vaccination, education regarding drinking water sources.

Question 41

What is Giardivax?

Answer 41

Inactivated trophozoites that reduced shedding but not clinical signs.

Question 42

What is traveller's diarrhea?

Answer 42

Human giardiasis commonly seen in travelers drinking contaminated water.

Question 43

Describe the host range of Trichomonas.

Answer 43

Many species infecting a wide variety of mammals and birds.

Question 44

Where in the host does Trichomonas infect?

Answer 44

Intestinal tract and reproductive tract.

Question 45

How is Trichomonas transmitted in cattle?

Answer 45

Transmitted venereally from bull to cow via mating.

Question 46

What does Trichomonas cause in cows?

Answer 46

Infertility; AI bulls are screened for Trichomonas.

Question 47

Describe infection of Trichomonas in cats.

Answer 47

No reproductive involvement; proliferates in GIT.

Question 48

What Trichomonas species is responsible for early abortion and lowered fertility in cattle?

Answer 48

T. fetus.

Question 49

Bulls infected with T. fetus are carriers but _____________

Answer 49

Asymptomatic.

Question 50

How is T. fetus controlled?

Answer 50

Testing of bulls; TrichGuard vaccine.

Question 51

Where is T. fetus eradicated?

Answer 51

Parts of Europe.

Question 52

Is T. fetus notifiable?

Answer 52

Yes.

Question 53

What is the species of Trichomonas that affects cats?

Answer 53

Also T. fetus, but genotype is distinct from bovine isolates.

Question 54

What does T. fetus cause in cats?

Answer 54

Diarrhea, sometimes with blood; chronic colitis.

Question 55

T. fetus can also be found in ____________________ cats.

Answer 55

Clinically normal.

Question 56

What is T. fetus commonly misdiagnosed as?

Answer 56

Giardia due to similarities in clinical signs.

Question 57

How do you distinguish Giardia from T. fetus in cats?

Answer 57

Via fecal culture or molecular ID.

Question 58

Why is treatment of T. fetus difficult?

Answer 58

Metronidazole and BZ's are ineffective against Trichomonas.

Question 59

What is the species of Trichomonas that infects birds?

Answer 59

T. gallinae.

Question 60

What are the characteristics of T. gallinae?

Answer 60

'Canker' or 'frounce'; common in pigeons.

Question 61

What does T. gallinae cause?

Answer 61

Difficulty swallowing, diarrhea, and respiratory distress.

Question 62

What is the treatment for T. gallinae in birds?

Answer 62

Remove infected birds; medication in drinking water.

Question 63

What species does Histomonas meleagridis infect?

Answer 63

Gallinaceous birds; causes severe disease in turkeys.

Question 64

What is the name of the disease caused by H. meleagridis?

Answer 64

'Blackhead' or 'infectious enterohepatitis.'

Question 65

What are the different forms taken by H. meleagridis?

Answer 65

Cystic, amebic, and flagellate.

Question 66

The life cycle of H. meleagridis includes involvement from what other organism?

Answer 66

Heterakis gallinarum.

Question 67

H. meleagridis is seen mostly in birds that share what characteristic?

Answer 67

Birds with access to the environment.

Question 68

What are the pathogenic effects of H. meleagridis?

Answer 68

Ulceration and caseous necrosis of caeca; liver involvement.

Question 69

H. meleagridis has a ______ mortality in young turkeys.

Answer 69

100%.

Question 70

What species are less seriously affected by H. meleagridis but act as carriers for turkeys?

Answer 70

Domestic chickens.

Question 71

What is the key to control of H. meleagridis?

Answer 71

Prevention.

Question 72

What are sometimes used as treatment for H. meleagridis?

Answer 72

Nitarsone and paromomycin.