Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: Which stain is used to visualize Cryptococcus neoformans?_____

Answer: India ink

Flashcard 2: Which fungus is encapsulated?_____

Answer: Cryptococcus neoformans

Flashcard 3: Cryptococcus neoformans (along with other fungi) can be cultured on _____ agar.

Answer: Sabouraud

Flashcard 4: _____ is an opportunistic fungal infection that presents with headache, facial pain, and a black necrotic eschar on the face.

Answer: Mucormycosis

Flashcard 5: Which fungus is urease-positive?_____

Answer: Cryptococcus neoformans

Flashcard 6: The repeating polysaccharide capsular antigens of the Cryptococci capsule are the main virulence factor of the fungus, making it _____

Answer: anti-phagocytic

Flashcard 7: Clinical presentation and treatment of Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus (hookworm) infection?

Answer: Intestinal infection causing iron deficiency anemia; treated with bendazoles or pyrantel pamoate.

Extra: Transmission: Larvae (filariform) penetrate the skin (usually through bare feet). Diagnosis: Eggs in stool. Pathogenesis: Hookworms suck blood from the intestinal wall.

Flashcard 8: Common name for Dracunculus medinensis?

Answer: Guinea worm

Extra: Transmission: Drinking water containing copepods (water fleas) with L3 larvae. Clinical: Skin inflammation and ulceration (usually on lower limbs). Treatment: Slow physical extraction of the worm by winding it around a stick.

Flashcard 9: What are the key clinical features and treatment associated with Onchocerca volvulus?

Answer: River blindness, Ivermectin, Female blackfly bite

Extra: - Disease: River blindness (Onchocerciasis) - Vector: Female blackfly (Simulium) - Treatment: Ivermectin (Mnemonic: Iver-mectin for River blindness) - Clinical: Skin nodules, pruritic dermatitis, and blindness due to microfilariae in the eye.

Flashcard 10: Loa loa is also known as?

Answer: African eye worm (Loiasis)

Extra: • Transmission: Chrysops (deer fly, horse fly, mango fly) • Clinical features: Calabar swellings (subcutaneous edema), worm in conjunctiva • Treatment: Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)