Protozoa/Helminths — Flashcards

Flashcard 1: What are the classic clinical and diagnostic findings associated with Trichomonas vaginalis?

Answer: Strawberry cervix, foul-smelling greenish discharge, motile trophozoites on wet mount.

Extra: Diagnosis: Wet mount showing motile pear-shaped trophozoites. Treatment: Metronidazole (treat both partners). Transmission: Sexual.

Flashcard 2: What are the clinical findings and treatment for Trichomonas vaginalis infection?

Answer: Foul-smelling, greenish vaginal discharge; strawberry cervix; motile trophozoites on wet mount. Treatment: Metronidazole (patient & partner).

Extra: Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. Key findings include: \n- Clinical: Malodorous, thin, frothy, green-yellow discharge; pruritus; dysuria. \n- Physical Exam: "Strawberry cervix" (cervical petechiae). \n- Diagnosis: High pH (>4.5), motile pear-shaped trophozoites on saline wet mount. \n- Rule: Always treat both the patient and sexual partner to prevent reinfection.

Flashcard 3: Disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi?

Answer: Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis)

Extra: Transmission: Reduviid bug (kissing or assassin bug) Diagnosis: Blood smear, C-shaped trypomastigote Region: Central/South America Clinical features: Romana sign, Chagasic cardiomyopathy, Megaesophagus, Megacolon

Flashcard 4: Chagas disease

Answer: Trypanosoma cruzi

Extra: Dilated cardiomyopathy, megacolon, megaesophagus. Treatment: Nifurtimox or Benznidazole.

Flashcard 5: What is the disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei (gambiense/rhodesiense)?

Answer: African sleeping sickness (African Trypanosomiasis) :: Vector? :: Tsetse fly (Glossina spp.)

Extra: Diagnosis: Blood smear showing trypomastigotes. Common names/subspecies: - T. brucei gambiense (West African, chronic) - T. brucei rhodesiense (East African, acute)

Flashcard 6: What disease is caused by Naegleria fowleri?

Answer: Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

Extra: • Exposure: Swimming in warm freshwater lakes (enters via cribriform plate). • Diagnosis: Amoebas in CSF. • Course: Rapidly fatal meningoencephalitis. • Treatment: Amphotericin B.

Flashcard 7: Most common mode of transmission for Giardia lamblia?

Answer: Cysts in water; fecal-oral transmission

Extra: Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis (foul-smelling, fatty diarrhea). It is commonly transmitted via ingestion of cysts in contaminated water (e.g., campers/hikers). Diagnosis is by seeing pear-shaped trophozoites or oval cysts in stool, or via the string test.

Flashcard 8: Mode of transmission/infective stage of Entamoeba histolytica?

Answer: Cysts in water (fecal-oral transmission)

Extra: Infection occurs via ingestion of mature cysts from contaminated food or water. Trophozoites are the invasive form, commonly causing flask-shaped ulcers in the colon and liver abscesses.

Flashcard 9: Organisms seen on Giemsa stain

Answer: Chlamydia, Borrelia, Rickettsiae, Trypanosoma, Plasmodia mnemonic: Certain Bugs Really Try my Patience

Flashcard 10: What class of helper T cell recruits eosinophils for parasite defense? _____

Answer: Th2

Extra: Watch associated Bootcamp video [https://app.bootcamp.com/med-school/immunology/videos/t-cells?index=6] https://onlinemeded.org/spa/immunology/t-cell-activation/acquire?ref=anki