Parasitology Flashcards

Flashcards covering key parasites, diseases, symptoms, and treatments.

Amoebiasis

Dysentery, abdominal pain, liver abscess (Intestinal Ameba)

Entamoeba histolytica Transmission

Fecal-oral (contaminated food or water)

Entamoeba histolytica Treatment

Metronidazole

Balantidiasis

Diarrhea, abdominal pain, intestinal ulcers

Balantidium coli Treatment

Tetracycline

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

Fever, headache, nausea, seizures, coma

Naegleria fowleri Transmission

Waterborne (contaminated water via nasal passages)

Giardiasis

Watery diarrhea, abdominal cramps, malabsorption

Giardia duodenalis Transmission

Fecal-oral (contaminated food or water)

Giardia duodenalis Treatment

Metronidazole, Tinidazole

Trichomoniasis

Vaginal discharge, itching, pain during urination, urethritis

Trichomonas vaginalis Transmission

Sexual contact

Trichomonas vaginalis Treatment

Metronidazole, Tinidazole

Cryptosporidiosis

Watery diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps

Cryptosporidium hominis Transmission

Fecal-oral (contaminated food or water)

Cryptosporidium hominis Treatment

Nitazoxanide

Toxoplasmosis

Fever, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, Flu-like symptoms, congenital defects, ocular issues

Toxoplasma gondii Transmission

Undercooked meat, cat feces, transplacental transmission

Toxoplasma gondii Treatment

Pyrimethamine + Sulfadiazine

Malaria

Fever, chills, sweats, headache, anemia, splenomegaly

Severe Malaria

Severe anemia, cerebral malaria, hypoglycemia

Plasmodium falciparum Transmission

Mosquito bites (Anopheles)

Plasmodium falciparum Treatment

Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT)

Plasmodium vivax Virulence Factor

Dormant liver stage (hypnozoites)

Plasmodium vivax Transmission

Mosquito bites (Anopheles)

Plasmodium vivax Treatment

Chloroquine + Primaquine

Plasmodium ovale Virulence Factor

Dormant liver stage (hypnozoites)

Plasmodium ovale Transmission

Mosquito bites (Anopheles)

Plasmodium ovale Treatment

Chloroquine + Primaquine

Plasmodium malariae Symptoms

Long-lasting fevers

Plasmodium malariae Virulence Factor

Slow development cycle

Plasmodium malariae Treatment

Chloroquine

Zoonotic Malaria Symptoms

High fever, respiratory distress

Plasmodium knowlesi Symptoms

High fever, respiratory distress

Plasmodium knowlesi Virulence Factor

High replication rate

Plasmodium knowlesi Treatment

Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT)

Leishmaniasis Symptoms

Skin sores, fever, weight loss, Cutaneous ulcers, visceral leishmaniasis (fever, hepatosplenomegaly)

Leishmania spp. Transmission

Sandfly bites

Leishmania spp. Treatment

Amphotericin B, Miltefosine

Ascariasis Symptoms

Abdominal discomfort, intestinal obstruction, malnutrition

Ascaris lumbricoides Transmission

Fecal-oral (ingestion of eggs in contaminated food or water)

Ascaris lumbricoides Treatment

Albendazole, Mebendazole

Trichuriasis Symptoms

Bloody diarrhea, rectal prolapse (in severe cases), anemia

Trichuris trichiura Transmission

Fecal-oral (ingestion of eggs in contaminated food or water)

Trichuris trichiura Treatment

Albendazole, Mebendazole

Hookworm disease Symptoms

Anemia, malnutrition, fatigue, 'ground itch' (rash at entry site)

Hookworms Transmission

Skin penetration by larvae from contaminated soil

Hookworms Treatment

Albendazole, Mebendazole

Strongyloidiasis Symptoms

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe immune evasion causing disseminated strongyloidiasis in immunocompromised patients

Strongyloides stercoralis Transmission

Skin penetration by larvae from contaminated soil

Strongyloides stercoralis Treatment

Ivermectin

Enterobiasis (Pinworm infection) Symptoms

Perianal itching (worse at night), mild abdominal discomfort

Enterobius vermicularis Transmission

Fecal-oral (ingestion of eggs, commonly due to hand-to-mouth transfer)

Enterobius vermicularis Treatment

Albendazole, Mebendazole

Lymphatic filariasis Symptoms

Swelling of limbs (elephantiasis), fever, lymphangitis

Wuchereria bancrofti Transmission

Mosquito bite (Culex, Anopheles, or Aedes species)

Wuchereria bancrofti Treatment

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), Albendazole

Brugia malayi Symptoms

Similar to W. bancrofti, swelling predominantly in the lower limbs

Brugia malayi Transmission

Mosquito bite (Mansonia or Aedes species)

Brugia malayi Treatment

Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), Albendazole

Trichinellosis Symptoms

Muscle pain, fever, swelling around the eyes, gastrointestinal symptoms (in early stages)

Trichinella spiralis Transmission

Ingestion of undercooked meat (e.g., pork) containing larvae

Trichinella spiralis Treatment

Albendazole, Mebendazole

Taeniasis Symptoms

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, potential complications like cysticercosis (T. solium)

Taenia spp Transmission

Ingestion of undercooked meat containing larvae

Taenia spp Treatment

Praziquantel

Diphyllobothriasis Symptoms

Abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, B12 deficiency leading to anemia

Diphyllobothrium latum Transmission

Ingestion of raw or undercooked fish

Diphyllobothrium latum Treatment

Praziquantel

Schistosomiasis (Urinary) Symptoms

Hematuria, bladder inflammation, chronic infection may lead to bladder cancer

Schistosoma haematobium Transmission

Skin penetration by larvae in contaminated water

Schistosoma haematobium Treatment

Praziquantel

Schistosomiasis (Intestinal) Symptoms

Abdominal pain, diarrhea, hepatosplenomegaly

Schistosoma japonicum Transmission

Skin penetration by larvae in contaminated water

Schistosoma japonicum Treatment

Praziquantel

Schistosomiasis (Intestinal) Symptoms

Similar to S. japonicum. abdominal pain, liver fibrosis, and portal hypertension

Schistosoma Mansoni Transmission

Skin penetration by larvae in contaminated water

Schistosoma Mansoni Treatment

Praziquantel

Paragonimiasis Symptoms

Chronic cough, chest pain, hemoptysis (sputum with blood)

Paragonimus westermani Transmission

Ingestion of raw or undercooked crustaceans

Paragonimus westermani Treatment

Praziquantel, Triclabendazole

Pediculosis corporis Symptoms

Intense itching, rash, secondary bacterial infections

Louse (body) Transmission

Close physical contact

Louse (body) Treatment

Permethrin, Malathion

Pediculosis capitis Symptoms

Itching of the scalp, visible nits or lice

Louse (head) Transmission

Close physical contact

Louse (head) Treatment

Permethrin, Malathion

Pediculosis pubis Symptoms

Itching in pubic area, visible nits or lice

Louse (inguinal) Transmission

Close physical or sexual contact

Louse (inguinal) Treatment

Permethrin, Malathion