Practical Medical Biology Lab 13: Haemoflagellates

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Questions and Answers

What is the name of the genus that includes the species causing Kalaazar?

Leishmania (correct)

Trichomonas

Giardia

Trypanosoma

What is the name of the disease caused by the Leishmania braziliensis species?

Chronic leishmaniasis

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (correct)

Cutaneous leishmaniasis

Visceral leishmaniasis

What is the type of parasite that Leishmania species are?

Optional intracellular parasites

Extracellular parasites

Facultative intracellular parasites

Obligate intracellular parasites (correct)

What is the name of the host that Leishmania species pass their life cycle in?

Mammalian host and female sand-fly (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the form of the parasite that exists in humans and other mammals?

Amastigote form (B) Signup and view all the answers

How many diseases are caused by various species of genus Leishmania across the tropics?

3 (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the ranking of leishmaniasis in terms of parasitic killers?

The second-largest parasitic killer (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the species of Leishmania that causes Visceral leishmaniasis?

L. donovani (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the gold standard for diagnosing Leishmania?

Microscopic examination of blood smears and tissue aspirates (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary habitat of Leishmania tropica?

Human skin (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of Cutaneous Leishmaniosis?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the common feature of sores caused by Leishmania tropica?

Painless and can be disfiguring (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary mode of prevention and control for Leishmania?

All of the above (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the type of Leishmania that occurs in Ethiopia and Kenya?

L.aethiopica (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic appearance of Leishmania tropica sores?

Raised edge and central crater (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of swollen lymph nodes near the sores?

It is a symptom of Cutaneous Leishmaniosis (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the shape of Amastigotes?

Round or oval shape (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the temperature at which Amastigotes divide by binary fission?

37°C (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the habitat of Leishmania donovani?

Intracellular in macrophages (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the vector of Leishmania donovani?

Female sand fly of the genus Phlebotomus (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the disease caused by Leishmania donovani?

Visceral leishmaniosis (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the stage of Leishmania donovani found in the midgut of sand fly?

Promastigote form (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most severely affected organ in visceral leishmaniosis?

Liver and spleen (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of untreated visceral leishmaniosis?

Untreated disease can be fatal (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Haemoflagellates

Haemoflagellates include Giardia lamblia, Leishmania spp., Trichomonas tenax, Trypanosoma brucei, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Trypanosoma cruzi.

Genus: Leishmania

Named after Sir William Leishman, who discovered the flagellate protozoa causing Kalaazar, an Indian visceral leishmaniasis.
All members of the genus Leishmania are obligate intracellular parasites.
Causes three different diseases: visceral leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

Visceral Leishmaniasis

Caused by L. donovani, infecting internal organs (liver, spleen, and bone marrow) in humans.
The second-largest parasitic killer in the world, after malaria.

Morphology of Leishmania

Exists in two forms: amastigote (in humans and other mammals) and promastigote (in the sandfly and in artificial culture).
Morphological differences between amastigotes and promastigotes:
- Amastigotes: round or oval shape, non-flagellate, and found in human macrophages.
- Promastigotes: spindle-shaped, flagellate, and found in the midgut of the sandfly.

Leishmania donovani

Causes visceral leishmaniosis or Kala-azar, a major public health problem in many parts of the world.
Vector: female sand fly of the genus Phlebotomus.
Vertebrate host: humans and other mammals.
Habitat: obligatory intracellular (mostly macrophages).
Mode of infection: by vector sand fly bite of exposed skin.
Clinical features: intermittent fever, weakness, diarrhea, sweating, weight loss, anemia, and granulomatous skin lesions.

Diagnosis of Leishmaniasis

Based on history of exposure to sand fly.
Methods:
- Microscopic examination: demonstration of amastigotes in blood smears and tissue aspirates.
- Culture: tissue specimens or blood cultured in NNN medium.
- Serodiagnosis.
- Molecular diagnosis: PCR on clinical specimens.
- Skin test: Leishmanin skin test (Montenegro test).

Leishmania tropica

Includes three species: L. tropica minor, L. tropica major, and L. aethiopica.
Found in Middle East, India, Afghanistan, eastern Mediterranean countries, North Africa, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Causes old world cutaneous leishmaniosis, oriental sore, Delhi ulcer, Baghdad pill, Aleppo pill, and Delhi pill.
Amastigotes present in the skin, within large mononuclear cells and neutrophils.
Habitat: human skin.
Pathogenicity and clinical signs of Cutaneous Leishmaniosis:
- Most common form.
- Characterized by one or more sores, papules, or nodules on the skin.
- Sores can change in size and appearance over time.
- Often described as looking somewhat like a volcano with a raised edge and central crater.
- Sores are usually painless but can become painful if secondarily infected.
- Swollen lymph nodes may be present near the sores.
- Sores can leave significant scars and be disfiguring if they occur on the face.

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Description

This quiz covers the basics of Haemoflagellates, including Giardia lamblia, Leishmania spp, Trichomonas tenax, Trypanosoma brucei, and more. It's a practical lab for Medical Biology students at the College of Dentistry, Alnoor University.