Characteristics and Infection of Nematodes Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the main cause of Trichinellosis?

Being bitten by an infected mosquito

Contact with infected soil

Consuming contaminated water

Eating undercooked meat (correct)

Which type of nematode is responsible for heartworm disease in pets?

Dirofilaria immitis (correct)

Trichinella spiralis

Ancylostoma duodenale

Necator americanus

What is the cryptobiosis characteristic of nematodes?

Ability to migrate through the skin

Ability to replicate rapidly in a host organism

Ability to form cysts for survival in harsh conditions (correct)

Ability to cause allergic reactions in the host

Which part of the body can be affected by tinea manuum?

Hands Signup and view all the answers

How do hookworms primarily infect humans?

Through skin penetration Signup and view all the answers

Which parasite is known as the New World or North American hookworm?

Necator americanus Signup and view all the answers

How do nematodes absorb oxygen?

Through their skin via diffusion Signup and view all the answers

Which nematode infection is more common in children than in adults?

Ascaris infection Signup and view all the answers

Where are pinworms primarily found in the human body?

Large intestine Signup and view all the answers

What is cryptobiosis in nematodes?

The alteration of metabolism in response to a drastic environmental change Signup and view all the answers

Which parasitic helminth infection can cause sleeplessness and itching around the anus?

Pinworm infection Signup and view all the answers

Which type of nematode infection is transmitted from animals to humans?

Toxocariasis Signup and view all the answers

What are the two major groups of helminth parasites?

Nematodes and flatworms Signup and view all the answers

How are nematodes commonly transmitted to humans?

Through undercooked foods Signup and view all the answers

Where are nematodes commonly found?

In various environments including undercooked foods Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of nematodes?

Identified by looking for microscopic eggs Signup and view all the answers

What is cryptobiosis in nematodes?

A dormant state to survive harsh conditions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a flatworm parasite?

Taenia solium Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Characteristics of Nematodes

Nematodes absorb oxygen through their skin via diffusion, where oxygen moves from an area of high concentration to low.
Some Nematodes can undergo cryptobiosis, a process where they alter their metabolism in response to drastic environmental changes, such as freezing or extreme heat.

Nematode Infections

Ascaris lumbricoides (Ascariasis) is a parasitic worm that can be found in the small intestine, more common in children than adults.
Enterobius vermicularis (Pinworm infection) is a parasitic worm that can live in the large intestine and cause sleeplessness and itching around the anus.
Toxocara canis and T.cati (Toxocariasis) are parasitic roundworms commonly found in the intestines of dogs and cats, and can be transmitted to humans.
Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale (Hookworm infection) are parasites that can affect the lungs, skin, and small intestine.
Trichinella spiralis (Trichinellosis) is a disease that can be acquired by consuming undercooked meat, which releases larvae that encyst in muscles.
Dirofilaria immitis (Heartworm disease) is a serious disease that can cause severe lung disease, heart failure, and death in pets, spread through mosquito bites.

Clinical Focus (Ringworm)

Ringworm is a common infection of the skin and nails caused by fungi (Trichophyton, Microsporum, and Epidermophyton), not an actual worm under the skin.
It commonly affects athletes in contact sports and can occur on the beard, hands, toenails, or fingernails.

Guinea Worms Eradication Campaign

After the eradication campaign, only four countries (Chad, Mali, South Sudan, and Ethiopia) reported the disease, with a total of 126 cases reported to WHO in 2014.

Key Concepts and Summary

Helminth parasites are included in the study of microbiology because they are often identified by looking for microscopic eggs and larvae.
The two major groups of helminth parasites are the roundworms (Nematoda) and the flatworms (Platyhelminthes).
Nematodes are common intestinal parasites often transmitted through undercooked foods, although they are also found in other environments.
Platyhelminths include tapeworms and flukes, which are often transmitted through different means.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the characteristics and infections caused by nematodes, including their unique oxygen absorption process and survival mechanisms like cryptobiosis. Learn about nematode infections such as Ascariasis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides.