Malaria and Filarciasis

Study Notes

Diseases, pathogens, infective stages, vectors, modes of infection, symptoms, diagnoses, control and treatments listed

Malaria

Pathogen: Protozoan Plasmodium falciparum/malariae
Infective Stage: Sporozoite
Vectors: Female anopheles mosquitoes
Infection Mode: Via injection of saliva rich in sporozoites from female Anopheles mosquitoes when feeding on a malaria patient.
Symptoms: High fever, chills, muscle pain, severe headache, secondary anaemia
Diagnosis: Blood test, bone-marrow examination
Control: Mosquito nets, wire gauze on windows and doors
Treatment: Chloroquine/quinine

Filarciasis (Elephantiasis)

Pathogen: Nematode parasite Wuchereria bancrofti/malayi
Infective Stage: 3rd stage of microfilariae larva
Vectors: Female Culex, Aedes, Anopheles mosquitoes
Infection Mode: Transferred from a filaria patient via saliva of Culex mosquito (3rd stage of MF).
Symptoms: Inflammation of lymph glands, excessive growth of connective tissue, periodic fever for 4-5 days, mammary gland swelling.
Diagnosis: Blood test
Control: Not specified
Treatment: Antihelminthic drugs: Metrazan, Diethylcarbamazine (DEC)

Ascariasis

Pathogen: Helminth Ascaris lumbricoides
Infective Stage: 2nd juvenile stage of Rhabditi form larva
Vectors: Flies and cockroaches
Infection Mode: Oral route via contaminated food and water spread by flies and cockroaches
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, blockage of intestine
Diagnosis: Stool test
Control: Proper washing of raw vegetables and fruit, hand washing before meals
Treatment: Piperazine, levimasole, mix of chenopodium and tetrachloroethylene oil.

Amoebiasis

Pathogen: Protozoan Entamoeba histolytica
Infective Stage: Tetra-nucleated cyst stage
Vectors: Flies
Infection Mode: Ingestion of tetra-nucleated cyst along with food and water
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, nausea, release of blood and mucous in stool.
Diagnosis: Stool test, indication of infection present with white stone shaped crystals in the faces
Control: Not specified
Treatment: Terramycin, metronidazole

Typhoid

Pathogen: Salmonella typhi
Vectors: House flies
Infection Mode: Typhoid spreads through food and water contaminated with feces of the patient
Symptoms: Abdominal pain, vomiting, constant fever with temp (39-40C)
Diagnosis: Widal test
Control: Vaccine oral-ty-21
Treatment: Antityphoid drugs ampicillin, chloromycetin

Description

Overview of Malaria and Filarciasis: pathogens, infective stages and symptoms. Malaria is caused by the protozoan Plasmodium, while Filarciasis is caused by the nematode parasite Wuchereria. Learn about their vectors, modes of infection, diagnosis, and treatment.