(Protozoa) Parasitic Diseases of the Circulatory and Lymphatic Systems

What is the pathogen for Babesiosis

Babesia spp.

What are symptoms of Babesiosis

Malaise, chills, fever, headache, myalgia, arthralgia

How is Babesiosis transmitted

From animals to humans via Ixodes tick vectors

How is Babesiosis diagnosed

Blood smear, serology, IFA, and PCR

How is Babesiosis treated

Atovaquone and azithromycin or clindamycin and quinine

What is the pathogen for Chagas Disease

Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan

What are symptoms of Chagas Disease

Fever, headache, body aches, swollen lymph nodes; potentially fatal

How is Chagas Disease transmitted

Between humans or from animal reservoirs via triatomine (kissing bug vector)

How is Chagas Disease diagnosed

Blood smear, IFA, EIA, PCR, xenodiagnosis

How is Chagas Disease treated

Nifurtimox, benznidazole

What is the pathogen for Leishmaniasis

Leishmania spp.

What are symptoms of Leishmaniasis

Ulcer; enlargement of the lymph nodes, liver, spleen and other organs

How is Leishmaniasis transmitted

Between humans or from animal reservoirs via sand fly (Phlebotomus spp., Lutzomuia spp.) vectors

How is Leishmaniasis diagnosed

Blood smear, culture, PCR, DNA probe, biopsy

How is Leishmaniasis treated

Stibogluconate, Amphotericin B.

What is the pathogen for Malaria

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

What are symptoms of Malaria

Extreme fever, chills, myalgia, nausea, and vomiting, possibly leading to organ failure and death

How is Malaria transmitted

Between humans via Anopheles mosquito vectors

How is Malaria diagnosed

Blood smear, EIA

How is Malaria treated

Chloroquine, atovaquone, artemether, and lumefantrine

What is the pathogen for Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii

What are symptoms of Toxoplasmosis

Tissue cysts; in pregnant women, birth defects or miscarriage

How is Toxoplasmosis transmitted

Contact with feces of infected cat; eating contaminated vegetables or undercooked meat of infected animal

How is Toxoplasmosis diagnosed

Serological tests, direct detection of pathogen in tissue sections

How is Toxoplasmosis treated

Sulfadiazine, pyrimethamine, spiramycin