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Infectious Diseases > Parasitology > Flashcards

Parasitology Flashcards

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1
Q

Parasitologists definition of parasite

A

eukaryotic non-fungal species

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2
Q

two major parasite groups

A

-protozoans
-helminths

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3
Q

Unicellular animal parasites

A

Protozoan (Protists)

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4
Q

Examples of protists

A

-Malaria
-Parasitic amoebas
-Trypanosomes

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5
Q

Multicellular animal parasites

A

metazoans

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6
Q

Metazoans main groups

A

-Trematodes
-Cestodes
-Nematodes
-Arthropods

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7
Q

What metazoan groups are helminths

A

-Trematodes
-Cestodes
-Nematodes

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8
Q

Trematodes examples

A

-Flatworms
-Flukes

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9
Q

Cestodes examples

A

Tapeworms

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10
Q

Nematodes examples

A

-non-segmented roundworms

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11
Q

Arthropods examples

A

-Insects
-Arachnids

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12
Q

Arthropod parasites

A

-Flea
-Tick

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13
Q

Parasite taxonomy

A

Disease name - Genus Species

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14
Q

Malaria taxonomy

A

Malaria - Plasmodium falciparum

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15
Q

How are parasites acquired

A

-orally
-person to person
-inhalation
-vector-borne
-direct contact/penetration

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16
Q

What does vector-borne mean

A

a vector is an organism that can spread pathogens

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17
Q

Definitive host

A

parasite reaches sexual maturity in the host organism

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18
Q

Intermediate host

A

parasite develops in host but doesn’t reach sexual maturity

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19
Q

Accidental hosts

A

Organism doesn’t allow transmission of parasite - preventing complete development

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20
Q

What is toxoplasma gondii

A

protozoan parasite

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21
Q

What does toxoplasma gondii cause

A

-Toxoplasmosis
-Typically asymptomatic

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22
Q

Where does toxoplasma gondii come from

A

-cat poop
-contaminated meat and food
-soil or sand from poop

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23
Q

Who is toxoplasma gondii dangerous for

A

-pregnant people - can pass to babies
-immunocompromised

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24
Q

How do cats get toxoplasma gondii

A

-by ingesting meat from an animal with bradyzoites in tissue cysts
-birds, rats etc

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25
Toxoplasma gondii life cycle
-Fecal oocytes into intermediate host -Replicates in gut to Tachyzoites -Localise to tissue or neurones becoming bradyzoites in tissue cysts -cats, definitive host, eat it -passed on to humans in many ways
26
What is the intermediate host of toxoplasma gondii
-cat prey such as birds and rats
27
what is the definitive host of toxoplasma gondii
cats
28
what are tachyzoites
actively replicating form of toxoplasma gondii
29
what are bradyzoites
semi-dormant, long-living tissue cysts of toxoplasma gondii
30
Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans
-infect enterocytes (intestine) -cross the lamina propria -infect neutrophils, dendrites and macrophages -dissemination via lymphatic to major organs -cross BBB
31
immune response to toxoplasma gondii
-Type I + II effectively control tachyzoites
32
Symptoms of toxoplasma gondii
-acute illness resolved quickly -cysts asymptomatic -some behavioural and psychiatric disorders -brain damage -Ocular (eye issues) -congenital (baby issues - death)
33
behavioural changes in women with toxoplasma gondii
-warm hearted -outgoing -moralistic
34
behavioural changes in men with toxoplasma gondii
-disregard rules -suspicious -jealous
35
Psychiatric risks of toxoplasma gondii
-increased risk of developing -schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, OCD etc -slow reaction times
36
Diagnosis methods for toxoplasma gondii
-IgG + IgM in body fluid -biopsy for tissue cysts
37
Treatment toxoplasma gondii
-Chronic = no treatment -Active = pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine/leucovorin + folinic acid
38
What Daraprim
-branded pyrimethamine -treatment for toxoplasma gondii -interferes with protozoal DNA + RNA synthesis -especially important in HIV/AIDS
39
Cost of Daraprim
EXPENSIVE -US inc from $13.5 to $750 per pill -option for $99 for 100 tab -UK £13 for 30 tablets
40
What is malaria
-life threatening acute febrile (fever) illness
41
How is malaria transmitted
-FEMALE -Anopheles mosquitos
42
What parasite causes malaria
-Protozoan -Plasmodium falciparum and vivax
43
When is malaria dangerous
-within 24 hrs after first symptoms -infants, pregnant women, HIV/AIDS
44
Malaria parasites life cycle
-mosquito ingest gametocytes -inject sporozoites into different -human liver stage -ruptured schizont into blood -blood stages
45
How does malaria cause fever
-lysis of infected RBCs liberates parasite but toxic waste and cell debris -immune response to this -acute symptoms periodically
46
Periodical symptoms of malaria
fever occurs periodically -every 2-3 for up to 10hrs
47
What is hemozoin
-haemoglobin digested by plasmodium -insoluble + highly inflammatory
48
Why is hemozoin dangerous
-engulfed by phagocytic cells all over body -become unable to function -accumulate and cause anaemia + organ failure
49
Symptoms of malaria
-generic -specific = paroxysms (cyclical hot and cold shivers) -in endemic regions fever = malaria -symptoms coincide with parasite release form RBC
50
Complications of malaria
-Respiratory distress -Severe anaemia -Cerebral malaria - blocked vessels -Pregnancy complications -Organ failures
51
Diagnosing malaria
-Microscopy testing -Rapid antigen diagnostic
52
Preventing malaria
-prophylactics (prevent) -including; doxycycline, chloroquine and proguanil
53
How does doxycycline and tetracycline deal with malaria
-antibiotic with anti-malarial properties -Target apicoplast -Doesn't kill parasite but prevents further spread
54
What is the apicoplast
-important organelle of Apicocomplexa -Important part of parasite
55
at what part of the cycle do preventative malarias stop
-once hepatic cells have been affected -before they mature and spread to blood
56
Treatment for malaria
-most effective = artemisinin based combination therapy -half life one hour so other drug needs to be slower acting
57
what is Artemisinin and its function
-endoperoxide pro drug -interacts with haem to produce free radical -free radical alters parasite proteins
58
At what point of the cycle does artemisinin stop
-once the RBC have been infected -before they lyse and spread further
59
Best prevention for parasites
-vector control -insecticides
60
What is it hard to treat parasites
-they are eukaryotic -many treatments would also be highly toxic to us
61
What is Dracunculus medinesis
-largest parasitic nematode -copepods ingested by humans
62
How can Dracunculus medinensis be prevented
-special water filters -drop from 3.5 million to just 14 -could be second disease to be eradicated

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