Human Parasites Exam Review Flashcards

Key Diseases and Their Causes

• Beaver Fever: Caused by Giardia intestinalis.
• Brain Eating Amoeba: Naegleria fowleri.
• Katayama Fever: Caused by Schistosoma japonicum.

Cyst Stages and Pathogenicity

• No Cyst Stage: Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba gingivalis, Naegleria fowleri.
• Ciliate Causing Disease: Balantidium coli.
• Non-Pathogenic Amoeba: Entamoeba dispar.

Parasitic Structures and Organelle Functions

• Unique Structure in Toxoplasma: Conoid.
• Hydrogenosome Found In: Trichomonas.
• Contractile Vacuole Found In: Balantidium.

Life Cycles and Transmission Vectors

• Erythrocytic and Hepatic Life Cycles: Plasmodium.
• Carried by Ticks: Babesia.
• Female Anopheles Mosquito: Transmits Plasmodium.

Drugs and Treatment

• Anti-Malaria Drug from Chinese Herb: Artemisinin.
• Treats Anaerobic Protozoa: Metronidazole.
• Medication for Dormant Malaria Stage: Primaquine for hypnozoite stage.

Genomic and Behavioral Insights

• Cryptosporidium Lacks: Mitochondrial genome.
• Human Sickle Cell Mutation Protects Against: Plasmodium falciparum.
• Behavior Change in Rats: Infection by Toxoplasma.

Miscellaneous Information

• Largest Parasitic Protozoan: Balantidium.
• Smallest Genome Among Protozoans: Trichomonas vaginalis.
• Nuclear Dimorphism in Balantidium: Macronucleus with essential genes and micronucleus with germline genes.