Microbiology: Helminths, Protozoa, Fungi, and Bacterial Stains

Vocabulary flashcards covering helminths, protozoa, fungi, and bacterial stains from the lecture notes.

Taenia saginata Scolex

The adult scolex stage of the beef tapeworm (Taenia saginata), characterized by hooks and suckers, causing Taeniasis. Found in feces after ingestion of contaminated pork or beef.

Taenia solium Scolex

The adult scolex stage of the pork tapeworm (Taenia solium), characterized by hooks and suckers, causing Taeniasis. Found in feces after ingestion of contaminated pork or beef.

Taenia saginata / Taenia solium Ova

The egg stage of Taenia saginata or Taenia solium, physically characterized by radial spines, found in feces and causing Taeniasis (Tapeworm).

Schistsoma mansoni Ova

The egg stage of Schistsoma mansoni (Trematode), characterized by a lateral spine; contracted by swimming in water with infected snails, causing Schistosomiasis.

Strongyloides stercoralis Larvae

The larval stage of Strongyloides stercoralis; juveniles penetrate skim from soil, causing Strongyloidiases with symptoms of itching, chest pain, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Enterobius vermicularis Ova

The egg stage of Enterobius vermicularis (Human pinworm), transmitted via ingestion of pinworm on hands or fomites, causing Enterobiasis and perianal itching.

Entamoeba histolytica Cyst

The cyst stage of Entamoeba histolytica ingested in food and water, causing Amoebic Dysentery with symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood & mucus in feces, nausea, vomiting, and hepatitis.

Giardia lamblia Cyst

The cyst stage of Giardia lamblia ingested in water, causing Giardiasis with symptoms of diarrhea, dehydration, and abdominal pain.

Giardia lamblia Trophozoite

The active trophozoite stage of Giardia lamblia found in feces, causing Giardiasis.

Plasmodium sp. Trophozoite

The trophozoite stage of Plasmodium sp. found inside red blood cells; transmitted by the bite of an anopheles mosquito, causing Malaria, anemia, and spleen and liver damage.

Trypanosoma b. Trypomastigote

The trypomastigote stage of Trypanosoma b. viewed on slides outside red blood cells; transmitted by the bite of a tsetse fly, causing Trypanosomiases (African Sleeping Sickness).

Trichomonas v. Trophozoite

The trophozoite stage of Trichomonas v., which has flagella and is transmitted through sexual intercourse, causing Trichomoniasis; found in genital discharge.

Penicillium sp.

A type of mold fungus that appears green in color when cultured on SAB Agar.

Aspergillus sp.

A type of mold fungus that appears black in color when cultured on SAB Agar.

Candida albicans

A type of yeast organism that appears white in color on SAB Agar, described as looking like 'Drops of ice cream'.

Acid Fast Stain

A bacterial staining procedure used for Mycobacterium tuberculosis; mycolic acid in cell walls prevents the red stain from washing out during decolorization.

Capsule Stain

A negative stain where acid stain covers background and basic stain colors cells, resulting in a red color with a clear halo area where the mucoid polysaccharide capsule repels stain.

Endospore Stain

A negative stain revealing a chain pattern with red colored cells and no color in dormant spores, used for Bacillus and Clostridium.

Gram Stain (Positive)

A differential stain that colors bacteria purple, indicating a thicker peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall, as seen in Staphyloccocus epidermis.

Gram Stain (Negative)

A differential stain that colors bacteria pink, indicating a thinner peptidoglycan layer in the cell wall, as seen in Escherichia coli.

Dimorphic

Having two distinct forms in fungi: yeast-like in the host, but mycelia in culture.

Hyphae

The individual threads, fungal filaments, or thread-like structures that compose the vegetative structure and body of a fungus.

Mycelium

The densely branched network or mass of interwoven filaments of hyphae in a fungus.

Mycosis

Any disease caused by a fungus.

Enterobiasis Test Method

A diagnostic procedure performed by sticking scotch tape to the anus to test for pinworm (Enterobius vermicularis).