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Questions and Answers
What characterizes the life cycle of filarial worms?
What characterizes the life cycle of filarial worms?
Which specific condition is associated with Wuchereria bancrofti?
Which specific condition is associated with Wuchereria bancrofti?
How do biting insects contribute to the transmission of filarial worms?
How do biting insects contribute to the transmission of filarial worms?
Which of the following is a characteristic of microfilaria?
Which of the following is a characteristic of microfilaria?
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Which species is responsible for African Trypanosomiasis?
Which species is responsible for African Trypanosomiasis?
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Which of the following symptoms is associated with Onchocerca volvulus infection?
Which of the following symptoms is associated with Onchocerca volvulus infection?
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What is the primary method of diagnosis for infections caused by filarial worms?
What is the primary method of diagnosis for infections caused by filarial worms?
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How frequently should Ivermectin be administered for the treatment of Onchocerca volvulus infection?
How frequently should Ivermectin be administered for the treatment of Onchocerca volvulus infection?
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Which species is responsible for lymphatic filariasis?
Which species is responsible for lymphatic filariasis?
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What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes Trypanosoma brucei gambiense from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense?
What is the primary characteristic that distinguishes Trypanosoma brucei gambiense from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense?
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Which of the following species is known to cause lymphatic filariasis?
Which of the following species is known to cause lymphatic filariasis?
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What is the primary disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus?
What is the primary disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus?
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Which of the following vectors is most commonly associated with the transmission of African trypanosomiasis?
Which of the following vectors is most commonly associated with the transmission of African trypanosomiasis?
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Which type of Trypanosoma brucei is primarily associated with chronic African sleeping sickness?
Which type of Trypanosoma brucei is primarily associated with chronic African sleeping sickness?
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Which of the following symptoms is commonly associated with filariasis?
Which of the following symptoms is commonly associated with filariasis?
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What general life cycle characteristic is common to both filarial worms and African trypanosomes?
What general life cycle characteristic is common to both filarial worms and African trypanosomes?
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What diagnostic method is commonly used to identify the presence of malaria-causing protozoa?
What diagnostic method is commonly used to identify the presence of malaria-causing protozoa?
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Loa Loa is most commonly known for which of the following characteristics?
Loa Loa is most commonly known for which of the following characteristics?
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Which species of filarial worm is responsible for river blindness?
Which species of filarial worm is responsible for river blindness?
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What is the primary vector for Loa loa?
What is the primary vector for Loa loa?
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What population symptom is commonly associated with Loa loa infection?
What population symptom is commonly associated with Loa loa infection?
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What is the main treatment for Loa loa infection?
What is the main treatment for Loa loa infection?
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Which of the following filarial worms typically causes lymphatic filariasis?
Which of the following filarial worms typically causes lymphatic filariasis?
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How long do adult Loa loa live within the host?
How long do adult Loa loa live within the host?
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What is the typical method for diagnosing Loa loa?
What is the typical method for diagnosing Loa loa?
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Which of the following describes the lifecycle of microfilariae from Loa loa?
Which of the following describes the lifecycle of microfilariae from Loa loa?
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What is the primary vector for African Trypanosomiasis?
What is the primary vector for African Trypanosomiasis?
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Which species of Trypanosoma is associated with the chronic form of sleeping sickness?
Which species of Trypanosoma is associated with the chronic form of sleeping sickness?
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What is a key clinical feature of the second stage of sleeping sickness?
What is a key clinical feature of the second stage of sleeping sickness?
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What is the best time for treatment of African Trypanosomiasis to be effective?
What is the best time for treatment of African Trypanosomiasis to be effective?
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What laboratory tests are used for diagnosing African Trypanosomiasis?
What laboratory tests are used for diagnosing African Trypanosomiasis?
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What is the primary clinical consequence of untreated African Trypanosomiasis?
What is the primary clinical consequence of untreated African Trypanosomiasis?
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Which symptom is NOT typically associated with the hemolymphatic stage of sleeping sickness?
Which symptom is NOT typically associated with the hemolymphatic stage of sleeping sickness?
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What does Winterbottom’s sign indicate in the context of sleeping sickness?
What does Winterbottom’s sign indicate in the context of sleeping sickness?
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What is the vector responsible for transmitting African Trypanosomiasis?
What is the vector responsible for transmitting African Trypanosomiasis?
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Which of the following species is responsible for the hemolymphatic stage of African Trypanosomiasis?
Which of the following species is responsible for the hemolymphatic stage of African Trypanosomiasis?
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Which symptom is associated with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection?
Which symptom is associated with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection?
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What is the primary diagnostic method for filarial worm diseases?
What is the primary diagnostic method for filarial worm diseases?
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Which treatment is commonly used for African sleeping sickness?
Which treatment is commonly used for African sleeping sickness?
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Which of the following symptoms indicates lymphedema associated with Wuchereria bancrofti infection?
Which of the following symptoms indicates lymphedema associated with Wuchereria bancrofti infection?
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What is a key symptom of loiasis caused by Loa loa?
What is a key symptom of loiasis caused by Loa loa?
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Which test would be least useful in diagnosing African sleeping sickness?
Which test would be least useful in diagnosing African sleeping sickness?
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Study Notes
Parasites of the Blood: African Trypanosomes and Filarial Worms
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Learning Objectives (Filarial Worms):
- Know the major species of filarial worms.
- Understand their life cycle.
- Learn about their vectors.
- Understand the major disease syndromes caused by various filarial worms (filariasis, onchocerciasis, loiasis).
- Recognize cases of filarial worm diseases based on symptoms, disease course, epidemiological factors, and diagnostic information.
- Learn how to diagnose infections.
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Learning Objectives (African Trypanosomiasis):
- Understand the life cycle and transmission of trypanosomiasis.
- Know the two types (gambiense, rhodesiense) and their geographical distribution.
- Understand the disease course and be able to recognize a case of African trypanosomiasis based on symptoms, disease course, epidemiological factors, and diagnostic information.
- Understand how to diagnose these infections.
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Background Reading:
- Despommier, Griffin, Gwadz, Hotez, Knirsch, Parasitic Diseases, 7th Edition. (Free download: https://parasiteswithoutborders.com/books/)
Pathogens of the Blood and Lymphatic Systems
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Protozoal Infections:
- Malaria (Plasmodium spp.)
- Babesiosis (Babesia spp.)
- Leishmaniasis (Leishmania spp.)
- African Trypanosomiasis (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense)
- American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease; Trypanosoma cruzi).
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Helminths:
- Wuchereria bancrofti (lymphatic filariasis)
- Loa Loa (eye worm)
- Onchocerca volvulus (river blindness)
- Schistosoma spp. (schistosomiasis)
- Dracunculus medinensis.
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Bacterial Infections:
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme disease)
- Borrelia recurrentis (relapsing fever)
- Francisella tularensis (tularemia)
- Bartonella henslae (cat-scratch fever)
- Pasteurella spp. (animal bites)
- Rickettsia rickettsii (tick bite)
- Anaplasma (tick bite)
- Ehrlichia (tick bite).
Filarial Worms
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General Characteristics:
- Phylum: Nematoda (roundworms).
- High number of species.
- Found in or on almost all living organisms.
- Most are non-pathogenic.
- Dioecious.
- Direct and indirect life cycles.
- Undergo molting in juvenile stages.
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Species and Syndromes:
- Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi: Lymphatic filariasis.
- Loa loa: Loiasis or eye worm.
- Onchocerca volvulus: River blindness.
African Trypanosomiasis
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Species:
- Trypanosoma brucei gambiense
- Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense
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Geographic Distribution:
- Information about specific geographic distribution is included in the notes, but was not explicitly requested.
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Life Cycle:
- Information about the life cycles is included in the notes, but was not explicitly requested.
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Clinical Presentations:
- Clinical features of African trypanosomiasis, including the symptoms, stages (chronic/acute),and neurological manifestations.
Lymphatic Filariasis
- Causative Agents: Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi.
- Epidemiology: Over 120 million infected globally, with 40 million exhibiting clinical symptoms. Prevalence concentrated in tropical regions of South Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
- Clinical Manifestations: Symptoms may be subclinical. When symptomatic, inflammation leads to dilation of lymphatic vessels or blockage. Frequent presentation is acute lymphadenitis resulting in observable local swelling. Chronic lymphatic filariasis is associated with elephantiasis, which includes swelling of extremities, and higher susceptibility to infection.
- Diagnostics: Blood smears (especially during night-time; high concentrations of microfilariae during this time).
- Treatment: Diethylcarbamazine (DEC).
Loa Loa
- Causative Agent: Loa loa.
- Vector: Chrysops species (deer/horse/mango flies).
- Clinical Features: Adults produce nodules in skin or eyes. Microfilariae migrate to lymphatic system, lungs, and bloodstream. Does not typically damage the eye. Common symptoms include itching, hives, muscle pain, and sometimes swelling and nodules.
- Diagnostics: Microfilariae can be found in blood smears.
- Treatment: Diethylcarbamazine (DEC).
Onchocerciasis ("River Blindness")
- Causative Agent: Onchocerca volvulus.
- Vector: Black Flies (Simulidae).
- Epidemiology: Concentrated in Africa and the Middle East.
- Clinical Manifestations: Adult worms live in subcutaneous tissues and release microfilariae, which migrate throughout the body. Immune response to dying microfilariae causes skin rashes and lesions. Eye involvement may lead to blindness.
- Diagnostics: Skin snip biopsy
- Treatment: Ivermectin.
African Trypanosomiasis
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Clinical Syndrome: Acute vs. Chronic presentations based on parasite species. Symptoms can range from a localized chancre at the bite site to severe hemolymphatic or even meningeoencephalic stages. This may be followed by neurological symptoms, and even loss of consciousness, coma.
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Diagnosis: Blood smear, CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) analysis for parasites, serological tests.
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Treatment: varies by stage of disease, but may include pentamidine, suramin, and melarsoprol. Early treatment is critical for optimal outcomes.
Review Questions
- Various review questions related to diagnosis, treatment and symptoms of the specific diseases are included in the uploaded pages, but no detailed answers are provided. If these answers are required, the student should consult the provided notes.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the life cycle and transmission of filarial worms, including Wuchereria bancrofti and Onchocerca volvulus. Additionally, explore the distinctions between Trypanosoma species responsible for African Trypanosomiasis. This quiz covers symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment methods associated with these parasitic infections.
