Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Clinical Parasitology > Protozoans > Flashcards

Protozoans Flashcards

(79 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Describe Giardia sp.

A
  • Direct lifecycle
  • Hosts: mammals, birds, amphibians
  • Giardia duodenalis- assemblages
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are these?

A

Left = cyst

Right - Trophozoite

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How do cysts differ from trophozoites?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Describe the Giardia lifecycle

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Describe the clinical signs and pathogenicity of Giardiasis

A
  • Usually no clinical signs
  • If any:
    • Attachment of trophs:
      • blunting of intestinal villi - malabsorption, diarrhea
      • damage enterocytes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How do you diagnose Giardia?

A
  • Fecal exam
  • ELISA - always back up!
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How do you treat Giardia duodenalis?

A
  • None approved
  • Dogs: Febantel, pyrantel, praziquantel, Fenbendazole +/- metronidazole
  • if they are asymptomatic, treatment may not be necessary if you treat only once
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How do you control Giardiasis?

A
  • Bathe animals
  • removal of feces
  • difficult - resistant cysts
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Describe Tritrichomonas blagburni

A
  • Avg. 15 x 9 um (SUPER teeny)
  • Pseudocysts
  • Longitudinal binary fission
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Describe feline trichomoniasis

A
  • Large bowel disease
    • chronic diarrhea (blood +/- mucus), tenesmus, flatulence, irritated anus, fecal incontinence
    • diarrhea can last weeks/months/YEARS
    • avg. Age of onset = 9 mo.
  • Transmission: fecal-oral route, survival outside of host
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

How do you diagnose feline trichomoniasis?

A
  • Direct fecal smear
  • Culture
  • PCR
  • Colonic biopsy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How do you treat and control Tritrichomonas?

A
  • No approved treatment
    • Ronidazole
    • Metronidazole or tinidazole
  • Keep infected cats away from other cats
  • Do not allow litter box sharing
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are each of these?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are 2 non-pathogenic Trichomonads?

A
  • Pentatrichomonas hominis
    • cecum and colon of mammals (dogs)
  • Tritrichomonas canistomae: T. Felistomae
    • mouths of dogs and cats
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Describe Trypanosoma cruzi

A
  • Parasites of vertebrates - blood and tissues
  • majority transmitted by blood feeding arthropods
  • most not pathogenic
  • vector = Reduviid bug
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are the hosts of T. Cruzi?

A
  • American Trypanosomiasis: dogs, cats, opossums, raccoons, armadillos
  • Chagas disease: humans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the two life stages of Trypanosoma cruzi?

A

Left - Trypomastigote (subterminal kinetoplast)

Right - Amastigote

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Describe the life cycle of T. cruzi

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is this?

A

Amastigotes clustered in a pseudocyst

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the clinical presentation of American Trypanosomiasis in dogs

A
  • Acute stage: trypomastigotes in circulating blood
    • fever, anorexia, lethargy, diarrhea
  • Chronic stage: no longer circulating
    • CHF, DCM, arrhythmias, lethargy, resp difficulties, hepatomegaly, anemia
    • sudden death

Sporting/working dogs over-represented

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How do you diagnose Trypanosoma cruzi?

A
  • Serological testing
    • TESA blot/Western blot (trypomastigote Ag)
    • ELISA
    • IFA
    • Cross smear
    • Xenodiagnosis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How do you treat Trypanosoma cruzi?

A

Most experimental

  • Low efficacy vs. chronic disease
  • Treat over 2-3 months
    • Benznidazole - acute dz
    • Ravuconazole - parasitemia suppressed; no cure
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Cystoisospora and Eimeria are monoxenous…what does that mean?

A

parasitize one host (DH)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What is the difference between Cystoisospora and Eimeria?

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
What are the 4 species of Cystoisospora in dogs?
26
What are the 2 types of Cystoisospora in cats?
C. Felis and C. Rivolta
27
Describe the life cycle of Isospora sp.
28
What is the clinical presentation of a Cystoisospora infection?
* Occasional diarrhea, death * enteritis, colitis, weight loss, dehydration * **not zoonotic**
29
How do you control Cystoisospora?
* Kennel sanitation, **prompt feces removal** * disinfectants with high ammonia concentrations * steam/heat * treat all animals
30
How do you treat Cocciodiosis?
* Sulfadimethoxine * Furazolidone * Ponazuril
31
True or False: Eimeria is not a true parasite of the dog or cat
True - it’s a spurious parasite acquired by dogs and cats via predation or coprophagy
32
Describe Cryptosporidium sp.
* C. Canis - dogs * C. Felis - cats * both **rarely zoonotic** * Habitat = SI
33
Describe the life cycle of Cryptosporidium
34
How is Cryptosporidium transmitted?
* **Direct contact** with infective oocyst (in feces) * **Contaminated** food or equipment, hands, shoes/boots/clothing * **Water** ​low infective dose
35
What does physical disinfection of Cryptosporidium entail?
* Extreme heat or freezing, UV irradiation
36
What does chemical disinfection entail for Cryptosporidium?
* Chlorine * hypochlorite (bleach) * hydrogen peroxide * iodine
37
What is the clinical presentation of Crypto?
* **Most infections = subclinical** * **​**profuse, watery diarrhea * anorexia, dehydration, wt loss * villous atrophy, enteritis, fusion of villi (biopsy) * **Healthy dogs/cats - infections usually self limiting** * Persistent infection = underlying cause (e.g. CDV, immunosuppressed)
38
How do you diagnose Cryptococcus?
fecal float, intestinal biopsy
39
How do you treat Cryptosporidiosis?
* Alinia (nitazoxanide) * Paromoycin * Tylosin * Azithromycin
40
Describe Toxoplasma gondii
* Obligate, intracellular parasite * Hosts: * **IH - most mammals** * **DH: felids** * Transmission: * Acquired - _ingesting infective oocyst, consumption of raw/undercooked meats_ * Congenital - transplacental
41
What’s the difference between tachyzoites and bradyzoites?
* Tachyzoites - **rapidly dividing,** found in liver, lungs, spleen, lymph nodes * Bradyzoites- **slowly dividing,** found in brain, heart, skeletal mm, eye
42
Describe the life cycle of Toxoplasma gondii
43
Describe the clinical presentation of Toxoplasma gondii
* *No confirmed oocyst shedding in clinically ill cats* * **Seroconversion 2-3 wks PI;** most sero+ cats already shed oocysts (shed once) * Dz often in immunocompromised cats * Fever, anorexia, jaundice, abdominal pain/discomfort, hepatitis, pancreatitis
44
How do you diagnose Toxoplasma gondii?
* fecal exam * **Multiple** IFA, ELISA * **Most seropositive cats have completed oocyst shedding** * PCR * Histo exam (biopsy)
45
How do you treat Toxoplasma?
* Sulfonamide * Clindamycin * TMS
46
How do you control Toxoplasma?
* Zoonotic * neuro dz, birth defects, stillbirth, ocular dz * cook meat thoroughly * change litter daiy * wear gloves while gardening
47
Describe Neospora caninum
* Hosts: * IH: cattle, sheep, goats, deer, many mammals, birds * DH: dogs, coyotes * Transmission: * Acquired: ingesting infective oocysts, consumption of raw, infected meat, aborted fetus, placenta * Congential: transplacental
48
What are the 3 life stages of Neospora caninum
* Bradyzoite: usually in CNS * can remain in viable tissue (dead animals) for 7-10d * Tachyzoite: any tissue * Oocyst: **sporulates within 24h****​**
49
Describe the life cycle of Neospora canis
50
Describe the clinical presentation of Neospora caninum
* Most severe in congenitally infected puppies * **Limb paralysis - hind limb hyperextension** * Generalized disease some pups, older dogs * CNS involvement, myocarditis, hepatitis, pneumonia * Death if untreated
51
How do you diagnose Neospora?
* Fecal exam * Multiple serological exams (IFA, ELISA) * Biopsy * PCR
52
How do you treat Neospora?
* _Clinical improvement unlikely if rapidly ascending paralysis present_ * Adults/older puppies: * TMS * Clindamycin * Puppies 9-13 wks: Clindamycin \*\*nothing kills tissue cysts
53
Describe Hammondia spp.
* Morphologially similar to Neospora and Toxoplasma * **Obligatory 2 host lifecycle** * Transmission: * DH: ingest bradyzoites * IH: ingest oocysts
54
Describe Hammondia hammondi
* Hosts: * DH: cats * IH: **rodents**, pigs, dogs * Non-pathogenic
55
Describe Hammondia heydorni
* Hosts: * DH: dogs, coyotes * IH: cattle, water buffalo, camels, sheep, moose, goats, dogs * **Possible diarrhea**
56
Describe the life cycle of Hammondia spp.
* No congenital transmission * DH: ingest bradyzoites * no extraintestinal stages - no tachyzoites, no cysts * schizogony and gametogony in intestine * oocysts sporulate **outside DH** * IH: ingest oocysts * tachyzoite/bradyzoite cysts in sk mm, lungs, lymph nodes, brain
57
How do you diagnose Hammondia?
* Fecal float * cat - Toxoplasma or H. Hammondi * dog - Neospora or H. Heydorni * Hammondia spp. Are rare * Experimental PCR * Serology for Neospora and Toxoplasma
58
True or False: Neospora, Toxoplasma, and Hammondia are morphologically identical
True
59
Describe Sarcocystis spp.
* Hosts: * Predator-Prey relationship * DH: **carnivore** * IH: **herbivore** * Transmission: * DH: consuming IH tissue **containing sarcocysts** * IH: ingesting food **contaminated with sporocysts**
60
Describe the life cycle of Sarcocystis spp.
61
What is this?
62
How do you diagnose Sarcocystis spp.?
* Fecal float - sporulated sporocyst (DH) * Biopsy/necropsy * Western blot - Ab in serum or CSF * PCR * History
63
What two parasites are seen in this fecal float?
Top left = Sarcocystis oocyst (sporocyst) Bottom right = Cystoisospora oocyst (unsporulated)
64
Which species of Coccidia pass sporulated oocysts in the feces? How about unsporulated feces?
* Sporulated: * Sarcocystis spp. - oocysts OR sporocysts * Crytosporidium spp. - oocysts WITHOUT sporocysts * Unsporulated: * Isospora (largest) * Hammondia spp * Neospora * Toxoplasma
65
Describe Cytauxzoon felis
* **Piroplasms = invasive stage** * Hosts: * DH: **domestic cats** * IH/vector: **Dermacentor variabilis, Amblyomma americanum** * Reservoir host: N. American bobcat
66
Describe the life cycle of Cytauxzoan felis
67
Describe the clinical presentation of Cytauxzoon felis
* Fatal form: * fever (105\*), depression, lethargy, anorexia, jaundice, **death** **\<** **1** **wk** * Non-fatal form: * similar signs as ‘fatal’ form, can be asymptomatic, **persistent parasitemia**
68
Describe the pathogenicity of Cytauxzoon felis
* **Schizogenous phase = most destructive** * macrophages infected w/ schizonts block blood vessels —\> multi-organ failure * C/S 6-10d PI * Postmortem - dark, enlarged spleen, lungs, l.n. Reddened and petechiated, pericardial sac may contain gelatinous icterus fluid
69
How do you diagnose Cytauxzoon felis?
* Giema stained blood smears * PCR (8-12 or 14d PI) * Biopsy/necropsy of visceral organs — histiocytes filled w/ granules
70
How do you treat Cytauxzoon felis?
* Supportive care * IV fluids, antimicrobials * Atovaquone and Azithromycin * Heparin PRN
71
Describe Babesia spp.
* **Invasive stages = piroplasms** * 2 main species in dogs (US) * B. Canis * B. Gibsoni * IH: tick
72
Describe the Babesia life cycle
73
How do the hosts of B. Canis and B. Gibsoni differ?
B. Canis * DH: dogs, wolves, jackals * IH: Ixodid ticks - Rhipicephalus sanguineus or Dermacentor spp. B. Gibsoni * DH: canids * IH: suspect Rhicephalus sanguineus
74
Which of these is which?
75
Describe the epidemiology of B. Canis
* Adults: usually _carriers_, mild/unapparent dz * Puppies: **severe dz** * ​Transmission: **ticks = main vectors**
76
Describe the epidemiology of B. Gibsoni
* Adults & puppies: _same disease, any age_ * Transmission: fighting, ear cropping, tail docking, blood transfusions, transplacentally
77
Describe the pathogenicity of Babesia sp.
* Acute or chronic - **erythrocyte destruction and anemia** * C/S: anemia, pale MM, fever, amber/brown urine, splenomegaly * **thrombocytopenia** * B. Canis - mild to severe * B. Gibsoni - can be sever and persistent
78
How do you diagnose Babesia spp.?
* Blood film - piroplasms visible ONLY if clinically ill - not if carrier * IFA: titers \>1:80 significant * PCR: will detect carriers, to _differentiate spp._
79
How do you treat. B. Canis vs. B. Gibsoni?
B. Canis * mild anemia - no tx required, can be reservoirs, relapse possible * imidocarb disproprionate (Imizol) B. Gibsoni * Combo tx: **Azithromycin and Atovaquone** * Supportive care: blood, fluids * _Relapse more likely_ * Does not respond as well to Imizol

Clinical Parasitology (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions