All Fungal and Protozoan Diseases

Malaria

• Protozoan, attacks circulatory system, caused by Plasmodium species

• Carried by mosquitoes in tropical climates

• Targets red blood cells, causes anemia, enlarged spleen

• Symptoms: characteristic fever cycle, temperature increases from 40-42 degrees every 2-3 days (new gen released from cells)

• Treatment: chloroquines, ACTs (combination of 2 or more drugs)

• Prevention: mosquito netting

African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness)

• Protozoan disease of nervous system, spread by Trypanosoma

• Transmitted by tsetse fly (foundin sub-Saharan Africa)

• Multiples at the infection site and enter blood, travels to brain

• Causes meningitis and encephalitis ← coma

• Symptoms: lethargy, drowsiness, lost of interest, coma, death

• Prevented by vector control

• Treatment: eflornithine ← dramatically effective!

Cutaneous mycoses

• Fungal infection of the skin, hair, nails (keratin proteins is food!)

• Ex: ringworm (ring shaped fungal rash), athlete’s foot

• Often occurs in moist areas of the body

• Treated with topical creams containing azoles on the skin, oral griseofulvin for hair and nails

Candidiasis

• Fungal infection of the skin, aused by the yeast Candida albicans

• An opportunistic pathogen, infects when the normal microbiota is eliminated due to antibiotic use

• Causes thrush and vaginitis

• Treated with topical azoles or mouthwash containing nystatin

North American Blastomycosis

• Fungal infection of respitory tract, caused by Blastomyces dermatitidis

• Transmitted by the inhalation of yeast-like spores found in acidic soils

• Begins as a lung infection (pneumonia-like symptoms), becomes systemic (usually diagnosed based on skin or tissue ulcers)

• Treated with Amphotericin B

Giaradiasis

• Beaver fever, protozoan disease of digestive system

• Caused by Giardia lamblia

• Transmitted by drinking water that has contaminated with fecal matter from animals

• Symptoms include indigestion, nauseas, flatulence, explosive diarrhea

• Treated with metronidazole

Cryptosporidiosis

• Protozoan infection of digestive system, caused by Cryptosporidium

• Transmitted by improperly treated drinking water

• Resists chlorine disinfectant (removed with ozone of UV)

• Symptoms include fever, nausea, abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea

• Can kill immunocompromised patients