Parasitology Ii

Front 1

1. What is the agent of acanthamoebic keratitis?
2. Epidemiology?

Back 1

1. Acanthamoeba castellani
2. Worldwide - in air, soil, and water --> accidental human infection.

Front 2

1. Describe the life cycle of
2. Acanthamoeba castellani
Commonly found in what age range?

Back 2

1. It multiplies in fresh water as amoebas and forms cysts. They revert back to amoebas in soil. Both forms enter damaged tissue in the eyes, lungs, skin, or uterus, following exposure to soil, swimming, hot tubs, sewage systems, cooling towers, or contact lens solutions.
2. 30-50 yo

Front 3

1. Incubation period for Acanthamoeba castellani?
2. Describe the pathogenesis
3. Partial/protective immunity?

Back 3

1. 5-15 days
2. Commensal bacterial co-infection. Amoebas release collagenase and proteolytic enzymes. Forms a characteristic stromal infiltrate in the shape pf a complete or partial ring develops in the eye, followed by recurrent breakdown and healing of the overlying epithelium. Antibody dependent cellular rxn
3. No.

Front 4

List some symptoms of persons infected with acanthamoeba castellani

Back 4

Uveitis (inflammation of the iris and ciliary body)
Optic Neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve
Corneal keratitis (inflammation of the cornea
Granulomatous amoebic encephalitis develops in immunocompromised patients and presents with fever, headache, and seizures.
Acanthamoeba skin lesions occur months before invasion of the brains and presents as ulcers, nodules and abscesses and amoebic granulomas

Front 5

What diagnostic test would you use to ID acanthamoeba castellani? Describe the positive findings

Back 5

Trichrome stained smears of tissue exudates. Find star like cysts.

Front 6

How do you treat persons infected withacanthamoeba castellani?

Back 6

Propamidine

Front 7

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis
1. What is the causitive agent?
2. Epidemiology?
3. Transmission?

Back 7

1. Naegleria fowleri
2. Worldwide, free-living in fresh water, soil,vegetation, and minimally in chorinated pools.
3. Occurs while swimming in contaminated ponds, lakes, swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas in water above 37 degrees C. Inhalation of water into the nose.