Protozoa

Question 1

Protozoa

Answer 1

free-living, single celled, eukaryotic cells

Question 2

Intestinal protozoa

Answer 2

Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cuclospora cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium, Isospora belli

Question 3

Entamoeba histolytica

Answer 3

found in developing world, often asymptomatic

Question 4

Trophozoite

Answer 4

motile feeding form of the amoeba

Question 5

Sxs of trophozoite

Answer 5

asymptomatic BUT if it erodes the intestinal mucosa it will cause loose stools (with blood and mucus) and abdominal pain; if it penetrates the portal blood circulation it may cause abscesses

Question 6

Giardia lamblia

Answer 6

outbreaks occur when sewage contaminates water; interferes with fat absorption causing greasy diarrhea, gas, abdominal cramps

Question 7

Cryptosporidium

Answer 7

outbreaks of diarrhea from contaminated water sources; causes diarrhea and abdominal pain, typically found in immunocompromise patients

Question 8

Isospora and Cyclospora

Answer 8

cause severe diarrhea in immunocompromised patients, transmitted fecal-oral route; acid-fast!

Question 9

Trichomonas vaginalis

Answer 9

sexually transmitted; itching, burning on urination, copious vaginal secretions, males usually asymptomatic

Question 10

Diagnosis of Trichomonas

Answer 10

microscopic exam of vaginal discharge and urine

Question 11

Naegleria fowleri

Answer 11

95% die within a week; fever, HA, stiff neck, nausea, and vomiting after swimming

Question 12

Acanthamoeba

Answer 12

chronic granulomatous brain infection of immunocomprimised patients; HA, fever, seizers, focal neuro signs

Question 13

Balamuthia mandrillaris

Answer 13

chronic granulomatous skin lesions, amebic encephalitis, possibly asymptomatic

Question 14

Toxoplasma gondii

Answer 14

most common in AIDS pts, undercooked meat and cat poop

Question 15

Toxoplasma gondii presentation

Answer 15

fever, LN, liver, spleen enlargement, pneumonia, encephalitis and eye infection

Question 16

Pneumocystis carinii

Answer 16

causes pneumonia in immunocompromised patients

Question 17

Malaria-causing protozoa

Answer 17

Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, P. knowlesi

Question 18

Transmission of malaria protozoa

Answer 18

anopheles mosquito, travels to liver and spreads into RBC where it reproduces

Question 19

Tertian malaria

Answer 19

P. ovale and P. vivax burst every two days causing chills and fever

Question 20

Quartan malaria

Answer 20

P. malariae bursts every 72 hours causing three day cycles of chills and fever

Question 21

Plasmodia sporozoites

Answer 21

thin, motile, spindle-shaped plasmodia; “pre-erythrocytic” stage

Question 22

Schizont

Answer 22

mass of replicated protozoa; only one cell but divides into merozoites

Question 23

Exo-erythrocytic cycle

Answer 23

repeating sporozoite formation

Question 24

Erythrocytic cycle

Answer 24

merozoites infiltrate bloodstream

Question 25

Hypnozoites

Answer 25

dormant form caused by P. viviax and P. ovale causing relapsing malaria

Question 26

Babesiosis

Answer 26

transmitted by a tick (carrier from mouse) and results in fever and hemolysis

Question 27

Leishmaniasis

Answer 27

carried by rodents, dogs, and foxes but transmitted to humans via sandfly; common in south and central america, africa, middle east; skin ulcerations that can progress to strike retroendothelial organs (liver and spleen)

Question 28

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Answer 28

skin ulcer develops and heals in about a year; latin America and Texas

Question 29

Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis

Answer 29

Venezuela and Ethiopia, pts with deficient immune systems, nodular skin lesions across the body, nonulcerating

Question 30

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Answer 30

dermal ulcer arises and heals, progresses to mucous membranes of nose and mouth

Question 31

Visceral leishmaniasis

Answer 31

abdominal discomfort and distension, low-grade fevers, anorexia, weight loss, massive splenomegaly

Question 32

African sleeping sickness

Answer 32

Tryapnosma transmitted by tsetse fly; hard, red, painful skin ulcer, fever, HA, dizziness, LN swelling can further develop into drowsiness, behavioral changes, difficulty walking, coma

Question 33

Chagas' Disease

Answer 33

Trypanosoma cruzi; Americas; rodents, possums, armadillos via kissing bug

Question 34

Acute chagas' disease

Answer 34

chagoma (hardened red area) develops at site of entry, followed with fever, malaise, swollen LN; will usually attack heart and CNS

Question 35

Chronic Chagas' disease

Answer 35

arrhythmias, heart failure, poorly functioning esophagus, megacolon

Question 36

Balantidium coli

Answer 36

pig feces, trophozoites dig into intestinal wall, can be asymptomatic or have diarrhea