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Questions and Answers
What is the primary vector that transmits Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness?
What is the primary vector that transmits Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African sleeping sickness?
What is the primary vector responsible for Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi?
What is the primary vector responsible for Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi?
Which symptom is NOT commonly associated with African sleeping sickness?
Which symptom is NOT commonly associated with African sleeping sickness?
In which location is Chagas disease primarily found?
In which location is Chagas disease primarily found?
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What role does the kinetoplast serve in trypanosomes?
What role does the kinetoplast serve in trypanosomes?
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What type of disease is African sleeping sickness categorized as?
What type of disease is African sleeping sickness categorized as?
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What is a potential transmission method of Trypanosoma brucei besides insect bites?
What is a potential transmission method of Trypanosoma brucei besides insect bites?
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What can occur as Chagas disease progresses?
What can occur as Chagas disease progresses?
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What is a common early symptom of Chagas disease?
What is a common early symptom of Chagas disease?
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What severe complication can result from untreated Chagas disease?
What severe complication can result from untreated Chagas disease?
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Match the diseases with their respective causes:
Match the diseases with their respective causes:
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Match the symptoms with the appropriate disease:
Match the symptoms with the appropriate disease:
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Match the vectors with the diseases they transmit:
Match the vectors with the diseases they transmit:
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Match the region with the disease associated with it:
Match the region with the disease associated with it:
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Match the mode of transmission with the appropriate disease:
Match the mode of transmission with the appropriate disease:
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Match the symptom with its possible severity:
Match the symptom with its possible severity:
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Match the treatment type with the corresponding disease:
Match the treatment type with the corresponding disease:
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Match the description with the correct aspect of Trypanosomes:
Match the description with the correct aspect of Trypanosomes:
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Match the symptoms that increase in severity over time:
Match the symptoms that increase in severity over time:
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Match the potential risks with the diseases:
Match the potential risks with the diseases:
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Study Notes
Trypanosomes
- Trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa that cause disease
- Trypanosomes appear with two dark spots: nucleus and kinetoplast
African Sleeping Sickness
- Caused by Trypanosoma brucei
- Transmitted by tsetse fly
- Major epidemics in the past, the last lasting from 1970 to the late 1990s
- Can be transmitted mother to fetus and through sexual contact
- Symptoms: fever, headaches, joint pain, behavioral changes, confusion, sensory disturbances, poor coordination, sleep cycle disruption
Chagas Disease
- Caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
- Transmitted by triatomine bugs (kissing bugs)
- The bug bites mucous membranes and then defecates near the bite
- T. cruzi enters the body through the bite wound
- Early symptoms: swelling at the bite, fever, headache, lymph node enlargement, muscle pain, breathing difficulty
- Disease progresses, parasites can invade the heart and digestive system muscles
- Death can occur from heart failure due to heart muscle damage
- Major cause of heart disease in Central and South America
Chagas Disease in the United States
- Most cases are from patients who contracted the disease in endemic areas and came to the US
- Transmission in the US can also happen through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, and other blood contact
- T. cruzi is screened for in all blood donors
- Triatomine bugs live in many US states, but the number of cases is low
- Approximately 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Chagas annually, primarily from international travel or blood contamination
Trypanosomes
- Trypanosomes are parasitic protozoa that can cause serious human diseases.
- They are characterized by a nucleus and a kinetoplast, a single large mitochondrion containing DNA.
African Sleeping Sickness
- Caused by Trypanosoma brucei
- Transmitted by the tsetse fly
- Found in sub-Saharan Africa
- Symptoms: fever, headaches, joint pain, changes in behavior, confusion, sensory disturbances, poor coordination, and sleep cycle disturbance
- Can be transmitted from mother to fetus and through sexual contact
Chagas Disease
- Caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
- Transmitted by the triatomine bug (kissing bug)
- Found primarily in Central and South America
- Infection occurs when T. cruzi is inoculated into the body from the bug's feces
- Early symptoms: swelling at the bite site, fever, headache, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain, and difficulty breathing
- As the disease progresses, parasites can reach the heart and digestive system, causing destruction and potential heart failure.
Chagas Disease in the United States
- Most cases are acquired in endemic locations then treated in the US
- Transmission in the US can occur through blood transfusion, organ transplant, and other blood contact.
- Blood donors are screened for Chagas
- While the triatomine bug lives in many US states, transmission through the bug is rare due to low human case numbers.
- Approximately 300,000 Americans are diagnosed with Chagas annually, primarily from international travel or blood contamination.
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Description
This quiz covers the biology and diseases associated with trypanosomes, including African Sleeping Sickness and Chagas Disease. You will learn about their transmission, symptoms, and the impact they have on health. Test your knowledge of these parasitic protozoa and the diseases they cause.
