parisitology Flashcards
(16 cards)
What is the definition of a parasite?
An organism that lives in or on another organism and takes its nourishment from that other organism.
This includes various types of organisms, such as protozoa and helminths.
What is a host in parasitology?
A living animal or plant on or in which a parasite lives.
Hosts provide the necessary environment for parasites to thrive.
What are protozoa?
Microscopic, unicellular organisms that can multiply in humans, allowing serious infections to develop from just a single organism.
Transmission often occurs through the faecal-oral route.
What is the transmission route for protozoa?
Through a faecal-oral route, contaminated food or water, or person-to-person contact.
This method of transmission is crucial for understanding the spread of protozoan infections.
What is Entamoeba histolytica?
One of the most common pathogenic protozoa causing infections in humans.
It can lead to severe symptoms, including abdominal cramps and bloody diarrhoea.
What are the symptoms of an infection with Entamoeba histolytica?
- Increasing abdominal cramp
- Tenderness
- Weight loss
- Bowel function alterations (mucoid stools to watery and bloody diarrhoea)
This protozoan can cause invasive disease, leading to abscesses in various organs.
How many deaths occur each year due to Entamoeba histolytica infections?
40,000–110,000 persons.
This statistic highlights the significant public health impact of this parasite.
What are Metazoa (Helminths)?
Large, multicellular organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye (adult stages).
They can be either free-living or parasitic in nature.
What is Ascaris lumbricoides?
A soil-transmitted helminth that can grow to a length of up to 35 cm (14 in).
This parasite is commonly known as the roundworm.
What are anthelmintic medications?
Drugs that remove parasitic worms from the body, such as albendazole and mebendazole.
These medications are essential for treating helminth infections.
What are ectoparasites?
Parasites that infect the skin and its appendages, such as hair and sebaceous glands.
Ectoparasites can be obligatory or facultative parasites.
What is myiasis?
A condition caused by the infestation of the skin by fly larvae.
It is one of the common ectoparasitic infections.
What is the life cycle of Dermatobia hominis?
The life cycle involves the development of larvae causing lesions in the skin.
This ectoparasite is notable for causing significant skin lesions.
What is a common misdiagnosis for lesions caused by Dermatobia hominis?
Lesions are often misdiagnosed as cellulitis, Staphylococcal boil, insect bite, or sebaceous cyst.
Accurate diagnosis is critical for effective treatment.
What is a key treatment for abscesses caused by Dermatobia hominis?
Incision and drainage.
This method will reveal larvae that are causing the infection.
What are the topics related to parasitic diseases that were not covered?
- Therapeutic drugs for parasites
- Public health concerns
- Social factors associated with parasitic diseases
These topics are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of parasitology.
