Lesson 3 - Blood and Tissue Flagellates

What is the disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi?

Chagas' Disease or American Trypanosomiasis.

What mode of transmission is associated with Chagas Disease?

Bite of an infected Reduviid bug.

What is the infective stage of Trypanosoma cruzi?

Metacyclic trypomastigote.

What are the 4 stages of development of Trypanosoma cruzi?

1. Amastigote, 2. Promastigote, 3. Epimastigote, 4. Trypomastigote.

What is Romaña’s Sign associated with?

Conjunctivitis and unilateral edema of the eyes in Chagas Disease.

What is the primary vector for African Sleeping Sickness?

Tsetse fly.

Which Trypanosoma species is responsible for West African Sleeping Sickness?

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense.

What are the clinical manifestations of the 1st stage of African Sleeping Sickness?

Asymptomatic incubation, trypanosomal chancre at the insect bite.

What is the treatment for the 3rd stage of African Sleeping Sickness?

Melarsoprol.

What is Leishmania tropica primarily transmitted by?

Bite of an infected sand fly.

What disease is caused by Leishmania donovani?

Visceral Leishmaniasis (Kala azar).

What is the diagnostic stage of Leishmania species in human hosts?

Amastigote.

What are common clinical manifestations of Kala azar?

Fever, splenomegaly, cachexia, anemia.

What is the first sign of Old World Cutaneous Leishmaniasis?

Oriental sore.

What is the primary prevention method for Chagas Disease?

Education of the endemic population and insect control.

How is the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis confirmed?

Demonstration of parasites from blood and tissues.

What is the role of the Reduviid bug in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi?

It acts as the vector for transmission.

What is the primary geographic distribution of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense?

Central and Eastern Africa.

What treatment is considered the drug of choice for cutaneous leishmaniasis?

Sodium stibogluconate.

What is the habitat of the Tsetse fly?

The Tsetse fly primarily inhabits sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in humid and wooded environments.

What is the diagnostic test for Chagas Disease?

Serological tests to detect antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi.

What form does Leishmania take in the sand fly?

Promastigote.

What is the common name for Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection?

Chronic African Sleeping Sickness.

How is American Trypanosomiasis diagnosed in humans?

Isolation of parasite from blood or demonstration of antibodies.

What are the two forms of Leishmaniasis?

Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis.

What is a key feature of the trypomastigote stage in Trypanosoma?

It is motile with a flagellum and has an elongated shape.

What is the primary treatment for Visceral Leishmaniasis?

Liposomal amphotericin B.

What is the role of amastigote forms in Leishmania?

They replicate within host macrophages.

What is a common complication of Chronic Chagas Disease?

Cardiomyopathy.