Protozoa: Cryptosporidium parvum Flashcards

1
Q

Describe the life cylce of C. parvum

A
  1. Infected animals shed sporulated oocysts in faeces
  2. Host ingests oocyst which travels to SI
  3. Sporozoites hatch and burrow into gut epithelium
  4. Become established in extracytoplasmic vacuole and become trophozoites
  5. Trophozoites undergo schizogony
  6. Infected vacuole will now contain 8 merozoites
  7. Some merozoites go back and repeat 3-6. Some enter epithelial cells, undergo asexual reproduction again to form gametes
  8. Gametes fuse to form zygote which lays down a cyst wall to become an oocyst
  9. Thick walled sporulated oocysts excreted in faeces
  10. Thin walled oocysts lyse in host and cause autoimmunity
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2
Q

Give 2 features of sporulated oocysts

A
  1. Very resistant

2. Can survive in the environment for months

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3
Q

What is meant by ‘microgamete’ and ‘macrogamete’?

A
Microgamete = male gamete
Macrogamete = female gamete
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4
Q

What are 2 clinical signs of C. parvum?

A
  1. Diarrhoea

2. GI disease

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5
Q

How is C. parvum diagnosed?

A

FEC

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6
Q

Describe the epidemiology of C. parvum

A
  • Oocysts autosporulate so infection can build up rapidly
  • Once passed in faeces, oocysts immediately infective
  • Adults can become immune, but will be carriers so will still shed oocysts
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7
Q

How is C. parvum transmitted?

A

Faecal - oral route

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8
Q

Describe treatment and control of C. parvum

A

Treatment - Halofuginone gives some efficacy, supportive therapy
Control - Clean and replace bedding regularly, remove calf from dam at birth

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