Protozoan Diseases

giardiasis, leishmaniasis, trichomoniasis, trypanosomiasis phylum and subphylum

sarcomastigophora, mastigophora

giardiasis causative agent

giardia lamblia

giardiasis

“Hikers Diarrhea”, incubation 6-20 days, self limiting, prevented by water purification

giardiasis sx

mild → severe diarrhea lasting weeks

leishmaniasis (kala azar) causative agent

leishmania spp

leishmaniasis (kala azar)

female sandfly vector → rodent, dog, etc., 3 forms (cutaneous, mucocutaneous, systemic), incubation 2 weeks → several months

leishmaniasis sx

cut: papule, scar tissue, self-limiting

mucocut: lesions in naso-oral regions, x healing → secondary infections lethal

systemic: asx → fever, anorexia, malaise, weight loss, diarrhea → severe: anemia, enlarged spleen and liver, death in 2-3 years

trichomoniasis causative agent

trichomonas vaginalis

trichomoniasis

human carried only, 3rd most common cause of vaginal sx, loves moisture, needs lots of H2O to live, STD

trichomoniasis sx

F: vulva/inner thigh/vaginal itching/burning, frothy malodorous yellow-green discharge, burning/painful urination

M: mostly asx → burning/painful urination, painful testes, tender prostate

trypanosomiasis causative agent

trypanosoma spp

Chagas disease causative agent

trypanosoma cruzel

Chagas disease

endemic to Central-South Africa, kissing bug vector

Chagas disease sx

itching skin, scratch open → saliva in bloodstream → heart and intestinal tissue damage

African Sleeping Sickness causative agent

trypanosoma brucei

African Sleeping Sickness

tsetse fly vector, incubation 1 week, affecting CNS, very small cases by sexual transmission

African Sleeping Sickness (trypanosoma brucei) sx

tender nodule at bite site, possible ulceration, enlarged lymph nodes around area, comes back weeks → years later w/ fever

CNS: loss of all interest, higher sleeping episodes, poor coordination, confusion, slurred speech → coma, death

trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense sx

rapid progression sx → death from heart failure in 6 months

trypanosoma brucei gambiense

localized in African forests/brush, prevented by insect repellant/clearing brush, treated w/ toxic medicine

trypanosoma brucei gambiense sx

chronic infection, years long condition, caused by secondary infection, affects CNS if cross brain/blood barrier

subphylum sarcodina

pseudopodic movement

amoebic diarrhea causative agent

entamoeba hystolytica

entamoeba hystolytica sx

diarrheal disease, mild → severe

malaria, toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis phylum

apicomplexa

malaria causative agents

plasmodium knowlesi, vivax, falciparum, ovale, malariae

malaria

incubation 2 weeks, 3 phrases (cold, hot, wet), 24-72 hour cycles, multiple strains can attack at once, female anopheles mosquito vector

malaria sx

flu-like fever, headache, joint/muscle pains, nausea for 2-3 weeks, lead into phases

cold: severe shivering, feeling cold, low grade fever (101 at most)

hot: fever spike (103-104), very hot

in hot/cold: emesis, diarrhea (bloody possible), muscle/joint pain, convulsions and seizures (strain dependent)

wet: heavy perspiration, fever breaks

fatigue/recovery phase before next cycle

severe: anemia

toxoplasmosis causative agent

toxoplasma gondii

toxoplasmosis

cat reservoir, human and cat host, fecal-oral and undercooked meat consumption

toxoplasmosis sx

immunocompetent: asx → sore throat, enlarged spleen, fever, self-limiting in some cases

fetus: 1st trimester- severe birth defects, abnormally sized head, lung/liver damage, mental impairment, seizures later in life, otherwise abortion/stillbirth

3rd trimester- retinitis, recurrent pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision in 1 eye, rare: mental impairment, seizure disorder

immunodeficient: encephalitis (confusion, weakness, impaired coordination, seizures, stiff neck, paralysis, if brain/heart/other organ impact fatal)

cryptosporidiosis causative agent

cryptosporidium parvum

cryptosporidiosis

fecal-oral, can pass through water-filtration route, incubation 4-12 days

cryptosporidiosis infectious dose

<30 cysts

cryptosporidiosis sx

fever, loss of appetite, cramps/abdominal pains, profuse watery diarrhea → 10-14 days

balantidium coli, pneumocystis carinii, pneumocystis pneumonia phylum

ciliophora

balantidium coli

fecal-oral, swine waste reservoir

balantidium coli sx

LI ulcers, bloody diarrhea

pneumocystis carinii

produces cysts w/ 2-8 sporozoites, trophozoite, life cycle protozoal but fungal DNA, bridge organism?

pneumocystis pneumonia sx

fluid in lungs, difficulty breathing, poor O2 in blood, wet non-productive cough, discolored skin patches (can be serious in anyone)