test Flashcards
(117 cards)
what is the disease?
schistosomiasis
what are 2 other names for this disease?
bilharzia
snail fever
what is the causative agent of schistosomiasis?
parasites belonging to the genus Schistosoma
what are the 3 species responsible for most human cases?
s. mansoni
s. haematobium
s. japonicum
other human infections are also caused by which 2 species?
s. intercalatum
s. mekongi
schistosomes are blood flukes which are also known as
trematodes
adult worms are less than __cm long and live for ___ years
2
3-5
Why are Schistosomes unique among trematodes?
dioecious
with distinct sexual dimorphism
which sex are larger?
females
what defines the male?
they have longitudinal groove in which the female worm resides
where do the parasites live in the body?
in the veins around the bladder - s.haematobium
in the mesenteric (GI) blood vessels - s.mansoni, s.japonicum
thousands of eggs are released into the bloodstream, how many per species?
s. mansoni and s.haematobium = 20-300 per day
s. japonicum = 500-3500 per day
eggs reach ___ or ___ depending on species and are excreted in ___ or ___
bladder
intestine
urine
faeces
the individual in this case is infected with which species? how do you know?
s.mansoni
based on the structure of the large ovoid eggs
why does this parasite reduce haemaglobin levels?
parasite feeds on erythrocyes which can lead to anaemia - 9g dl usually 14-18gdl
what are eosinophilia?
white blood cells and one of the immune system components responsible for combating multicellular parasites
eosinophilia are also responsible for controlling mechanisms with __ and __
allergy and asthma
as well as the erythrocytes decreasing the parasite causes another thing to increasE?
eosinophilia to 1.1 x 10^9
the disease also causes oesophageal varices, what are these?
extremely dilated sub-mucosal veins in the lower third of the oesophagus
what are oesophageal varices a consequence of?
portal hypertension commonly due to cirrhosis
symptom of this disease is an abnormal liver with extensive granulomatous change and fibrosis caused by?
inflammation caused by macrophages leading damage/destruction of hepatocytes and laying down of connective tissue at these sites
the patient history points to this disease how?
lived in africa as a child played in nearby lake
what is the definitive diagnosis for this disease?
provided by the presence of Schistosoma eggs in stool sample
what did the endoscopy reveal about the patient?
extensive granulomas and schistosoma eggs in part of the colon closest to the rectum and anus