Microbiology Clinically Significant Protists, Fungi, and Helminths

Enterobius vermicularis (pinworms)

-nematodes (roundworms) -pinworm infestation -Most common parasitic worm found in the U.S., Intestinal parasite, female lays eggs in the anus causing perianal itching. -Anal oral and fecal oral inhalation

You are in a day care to pick up your kids. You notice during nap time, many kids seem to be experiencing discomfort and scratching their perianal regions. Which of the following organisms/classifications of organism may be causing an issue in this day care? (Choose all that apply)

-pinworms -nematode

Naegleria spp.

-pseudopodia -amoebic meningoencephalitis -Leads to hemorrhage, coma, and usually death -Swimming in contaminated water and inhalation of water thrusted generally into the nasal mucosae

Acanthamoeba spp.

-pseudopodia -karatitis (eye)/encephalitis -Can cause keratitis (Inflamed cornea) or amoebic encephalitis - which causes neurological problems and death -Enters through conjunctiva, or breaks in the skin

Which of the following may cause disease if consume contaminated aquatic vegetation such as watercress?

-trematodes -liver fluke

Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica (liver flukes)

-trematodes (flukes) -Fascioliasis -Normally infect sheep and cattle worldwide. Chronic infections occur when flukes reside in bile ducts causing obstruction and inflamation of the bile ducts. -Acquired by ingesting aquatic vegetation, watercress or lettuce

Schistoma spp. (blood fluke)

-trematodes (flukes) -schistosomiasis -Humans are the principal definitive host. Burrow through human skin through contaminated water contact causing DERMATITIS, urinary tract, and intestinal infections -Skin contact with contaminated water

Which of the following fungi did we say had spiny spores?

histoplasma capsulatum

Echinococcus granulosus is a helminth that causes ______________ disease.

hydatid

Trichomonas vaginalis

-flagella -Vaginosis (Females) -Infects the urogenital system in males and females, Vaginal discharge, cervical lesions, abdominal pain, and painful urination or intercourse, prevent with abstinence and safe sex practices. -STD

Giardia spp.

-flagella -Giardiasis -Usually asymptomatic, common cause of GI discomfort in the US (parasite lodges on the wall of intestine, preventing effective digestion) -Cysts found in contaminated food and water

Candida spp.

-Candidiasis -Candida causes many diseases (including Yeast Infections) but is generally found in causing issues in hospitalized patients that are immunocompromised.

Histoplasma capsulatum

-Chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis -Characterized by severe coughing, blood tinged sputum, night sweats, loss of appatite and weight loss. It is often seen in individuals with preexisting lung disease. It can be mistaken for tuberculosis. This Fungus has Spiny Spores.

Coccidioides spp.

-Coccidioidomycosis -Coccidiodes generally causes pulmonary issues but can lead to subcutaneous lesions. As spherules repture, many spores are released into surrounding tissue each forming a new spherule.

Paracoccidioides spp.

-Paracoccidioidomycosis -Not a common disease. Disease first becomes apparent as pulmonary form. Slow to develop but manifests itself as chronic cough, fever, night sweats, malaise and weight loss. Fungus almost always spreads, producing a chronic inflammatory disease of mucus membranes. Painful ulcerated lesions of the gums, tongue, lips and palate progressively worsen over the course of weeks to months. This Fungus has Steering Wheel Shaped Spores.

Entamoeba histolytica

-amoebic dysentery -pseudopodia -Intestinal infection - asymptomatic, or can cause GI distress, invade body beyond intestine -drinking contaminated water

Cryptosporidium spp.

-apicomplexan (nonmotile/gliding) -Cryptosporidium enteritis -GI symptoms, headache, muscle pain, cramping fluid loss and weight loss. Oral rehydration therapy may be necessary -Waterborne and foodborne

Cyclospora cayetanensis

-apicomplexan (nonmotile/gliding) -Cyclosporiasis -Cramps, watery diarrhea, myalgia, fever, Outbreaks in Central and South America have been linked to raspberries -Contaminated food (fruits and vegetables) and water

Plasmodium spp.

-apicomplexan (nonmotile/gliding) -malaria -High cyclical fever, shivering, chills, nausea, vomiting, headache. Parasite has life cycle stages in humans and mosquito, parasite can evade immune system in erythrocytes, causes erythrocyte lysis in host leading to anemia, weakness, fatigue. Use precautions to avoid contact with the Anopheles mosquito -Anopheles mosquito

Toxoplasma gondii

-apicomplezan (nonmotile/gliding) -toxoplasmosis -Cats are definitive host, other mammals infected, contaminated meat, or soil, disease is more severe in the immunocompromised (AIDS patients and Fetuses). Can cross the placenta causing abortion, stillbirth, birth defects, and blindness. -Avoid contact with contaminated cat litter and improper cooking of meats

Balantidium coli

-balantidiasis -cillia -GI distress (diarrhea ,ulceration of intestine, abdominal pain) -contaminated food and water

Which of the following are considered parasitic worms that are flat?

-cestoda -trematoda -taenia

Taenia saginata (beef)

-cestodes (tapeworms) -Beef Tapeworm infestation -Infects intestine by attaching to intestinal epithelium. Intestinal blockage can occur if tapeworm is large, proglottids released into feces, prevent by properly cooking or freezing meat. -Improperly cooked or preserved meat

Echinococcus granulosus (canine)

-cestodes (tapeworms) -Hydatid disease -Humans are accidental intermediate hosts.Can form hydatid cyst in other parts of the body -Contaminated food or water with dog feces

Taenia solium (pork)

-cestodes (tapeworms) -Pork Tapeworm infestation -Infects intestine by attaching to intestinal epithelium. Intestinal blockage can occur if tapeworm is large, proglottids released into feces, prevent by properly cooking or freezing meat. -Improperly cooked or preserved meat

Trypanosoma brucei

-flagella -African sleeping sickness-Fever, fatigue, drowsiness, headache, meningoencephalitis - Fatal if untreated, Use of insecticides, netting, and proper clothing to cover reduces chances of transmission from vector to human-Tsetse Fly

Trypanosoma cruzi

-flagella -chagas disease -Endemic to Central and South America; causes swelling at the site of infection (bite) likes to feed from blood vessels in the lips and face leading to chagomas (swelling of eylid) , fever, fatigue, rash, and may lead to congestive heart failure in chronic cases. -Insect (Kissing Bug) bite

Leishmania spp.

-flagella -leishmaniasis -Cutaneous (Painless skin ulcers), mucocutaneous (Lesions encompass mucous membranes), visceral (skin, skin +mucous membrane, in body cavity - high fatality if untreated), Dogs and Rodents are common reservoirs. -Sand flies

Which of the following would you find entering through the thick skin on the bottom of your feet when walking on soil?

-nematode -hookworm

Ascaris lumbricoides

-nematodes (roundworms) -Ascariasis -Ascariasis is usually asymptomatic but if infection is severe it may lead to GI distress and obstruction. May be diagnosed through eggs in the tool of host or rarely adult worms will exit the nose of mouth of the host. -Ingesting contaminated water/vegetables

Wuchereria bancrofti

-nematodes (roundworms) -Filariasis, Elephantiasis -Causes infection and damage to the lymphatic system due to accumulation of lymph -Femal mosquitos

Ankylostoma spp. and Necator spp. (hookworms)

-nematodes (roundworms) -Hookworm disease -Second most common Nematode infection in U.S. Sucks blood from host causing anemia. Found in soil and burrow through skin (Ground Itch- occurs where the larvae penetrate the skin where feet contact contaminated soil) -Direct penetration through skin

Which of the following organisms uses pseudopodia for locomotion and causes dysentery?

E. histolytica

This organism here that utilizes pseudopodia to get around is known generally as a/an ___________.

amoeba

Which of the following organisms causes Chagas disease and is transmitted by the kissing bug?

Trypanosoma cruzi

It is possible to get this disease we discussed in class if you do not properly store or cook your fish that is infected with A. simplex.

anisakiasis

The phylum __________ contains parasites that do not have a specific mode of locomotion or may be considered to be gliding.

apicomplexans

Which genus of fungi did we say caused yeast infections and was also recently found to be causing hospital related infections.

candida

Which mode of locomotion does the organism that causes balantidiasis utilize?

cilia

Which of the following genera of fungi did we say often caused subcutaneous lesions?

coccidiodes

Which flagellated parasite is a common source of gastrointestinal disease in the United States?

giardia

Name the genera of pathogenic organism that has been linked to contaminated raspberries?

cyclospora

The form of a protozoan that can be found surviving in the environment and being transmitted via intermediate hosts to the definitive hosts is known as the/a ___________ form.

cyst

Many times antifungals target the animal cholesterol like molecule known as ______________.

ergosterol

Wuchereria is a genus of parasitic helminth that is both a flatworm and causes elephantiasis.

false (It is a roundworm not a flatworm in the class nematoda)

Which of the following represents the mode of locomotion used by the organism that causes leishmaniasis?

flagella

Fungal diseases are known as __________.

mycoses

Which genera of organism did we discuss that causes meningoencephalitis uses pseudopodia as its form of locomotion an can be introduced into the host via forceful inhalation of water into the nasal passages.

naegleria

Which of the following classifications of helmenthic worms possesses a complete digestive tract?

nematode

Which of the following genera of fungi has steering wheel shaped spores?

paracoccidiodes

Which of the following causes you to itch your anal area due to egg deposits?

pinworm

The causative agent of Malaria is known as ________.

plasmodium

Animal like protists, that are eukaryotic and animal like are known as __________________.

protozoans

Pathogenic fungi are many times inhaled due to their light weight ____________ which are similar to seeds in plants.

spores

Which of the following would you find getting stuck in your bile ducts leading to infection and disease?

trematoda

Which of the following genera of organisms causes vaginosis?

trichomonas

The feeding and reproducing stage of protozoans that lives within the definitive host is known as the/a ___________________.

trophozoite

Mycology is the study of fungi.

true

African sleeping sickness is transmitted by what vector?

tsetse fly