nervous system diseases

causative agent: toxoplasma gondii

protozoan toxoplasmosis

mode of transmission: oral route

protozoan toxoplasmosis

virulence factors: toxins

protozoan toxoplasmosis

symptoms: mostly none in adults, mild-flu, birth defects

protozoan toxoplasmosis

treatment: antiparasitic

protozoan toxoplasmosis

epidemiology: rates differ by country, concern in pregnant women

protozoan toxoplasmosis

culture/diagnosis: blood or amniotic fluid test

protozoan toxoplasmosis

prevention: properly preparing and cooking food (care cleaning cat litter box)

protozoan toxoplasmosis

causative agent: clostridium tetani

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

mode of transmission: indirect, contaminated surface or object

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

virulence factors: tetanospasm exotoxin

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

symptoms: muscle spasms or stiffness, shortness of breath

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

treatment: muscle relaxation, antibiotics, antitoxin

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

epidemiology: low risk in north america, more significant in developing countries

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

culture/diagnosis: clinical presentation

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

prevention: toxoid immunization

bacterial tetanus (lockjaw)

causative agent: neisseria meningitis

bacterial meningitis

mode of transmission: airborne droplets

bacterial meningitis

virulence factors: capsule, endotoxin

bacterial meningitis

symptoms: high fever, stiff neck, and severe headaches with nausea or vomiting

bacterial meningitis

treatment: antibiotics

bacterial meningitis

epidemiology: sporadic or epidemic in late winter

bacterial meningitis

culture/diagnosis: spinal tap, gram staining, pcr

bacterial meningitis

prevention: vaccination

bacterial meningitis

causative agent: naegleria fowleri

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

mode of transmission: contaminated water

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

virulence factors: invasiveness

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

symptoms: headache, fever, vomiting

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

treatment: combination of drugs including Amphortericin B

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

epidemiology: 0-7 cases per year in the us, 97% fatal

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

culture/diagnosis: microscopic examination of cerebrospinal fluid

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

prevention: refrain from swimming in warm freshwater

protozoan meningoencephalitis (brain-eating amoeba disease)

causative agent: rabies virus (rabies lyssavirus)

viral rabies

mode of transmission: droplet contact, parenteral (bites)

viral rabies

virulence factors: envelope glycoprotein

viral rabies

symptoms: agitation, disorientation, seizures, and twitching

viral rabies

treatment: rabies vaccine within 10 days of exposure

viral rabies

epidemiology: 1-5 cases per year in the us, more worldwide

viral rabies

culture/diagnosis: direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) test

viral rabies

prevention: vaccine, avoid wild animals

viral rabies

causative agent: trypanosoma brucei

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

mode of transmission: tsetse fly, bite

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

virulence factors: immune evasion

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

symptoms: personality and behavioral changes, fatigue, sleep disturbances

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

treatment: antiprotozoal drugs

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

epidemiology: 600,000 per year

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

culture/diagnosis: microscopic examination of blood and cerebrospinal fluid

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)

prevention: vector (tsetse fly) control

protozoan sleeping sickness (african trypanosomiasis)