Med Micro Intro to Parasitology and Mycology

chitin, mannan, beta-glucan

these are the 3 major components of the fungal cell wall

scolex

name for the head of a cestode

ergosterol

this is a major component of the fungal cell membrane

cyst

dormant stage of protozoa that can survive in the environment

hyphae

long, tube-like structural elements of fungi

septate hyphae

name for hyphae divided by cross walls

hyaline

colorless hyphae

trematodes

helminth class known as flukes

conidia

structures produced by asexual fungal reproduction

yeast

unicellular form of fungi

mold

multicellular form of fungi

dimorphic

fungus that can exist in two different forms

fission or budding

mechanism of asexual yeast reproduction

blastoconidia, pseudohyphae, germ tubes/hyphae

budding yeast may produce these three structures

Candida albicans

germ tube formation is characteristic of this yeast

mycelium

branching mass of hyphae

rhizoids

root-like structures attached to hyphae

easily airborne

Danger posed by aerial hyphae

environment or normal flora

Source of most fungal infections

acquisition, host immune response, fungal survival in host

Three steps in fungal pathogenesis

superficial

classification of nondestructive fungal infection of skin and hair

cestode

classification of Taenia solium

subcutaneous

classification of fungal infection of the muscle

opportunistic

classification of fungal infections in the immunocompromised patient

cutaneous

classification of symptomatic fungal infection of the nail

potassium hydroxide

compound used to dissolve cellular material for microscopic examination

calcofluor white

fluorescent stain used to identify fungi

Dracunculus medinensis

tissue nematode diagnosed by finding worm emerging from skin

silver

stain that causes fungi to appear gray or black

sabouraud agar

nonselective fungal media

vector

animal capable of transmitting a parasite

oral, skin penetration, sexual contact, mother to fetus

Other than the bite of an arthropod vector, 4 routes of parasite transmission

definitive host

host that contains the sexually reproducing parasite

intermediate host

host that contains the developing stages of a parasite

infective

stage in parasite life cycle when it can invade humans

diagnostic

stage in parasite life cycle that can be identified in patient specimens

protozoa

single cell microscopic parasite

metazoa (helminth)

multi-cellular macroscopic parasite

immunocompromised

fungal infections are seen most often in this type of patient

amoeba, flagellate, ciliate, sporozoa

four classes of protozoa

cell-mediated and granuloma formation

type of immune response stimulated by fungal infection

trophozoite

feeding and reproducing form of protozoa

dematiaceous

darkly pigmented hyphae

nematodes

helminth class known as roundworms

cestodes

helminth class known as tapeworms

proglottid

name for the cestode reproductive structure containing eggs

trematode

classification of Paragonimus westermani

snails

first intermediate host of trematodes

systemic

classification of fungal infection of the kidneys

toxic products, mechanical damage, immunopathology

three pathogenic mechanisms of parasites

invasive

hyphae that penetrate tissues and enter the bloodstream

morphology, immunodiagnostics, molecular diagnostics, special procedures

fours ways to diagnose parasite infections

Blastomyces, Histoplasma, Coccidioides, Sporothrix

four dimorphic fungi