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    1.introduction To Parasitology

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    Pallavi Uday Naik
    This document provides an introduction to parasitology. It defines parasitology as the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of parasites. It notes that medical parasitology deals specifically with parasites that infect humans. It highlights that many parasites are major causes of public health problems worldwide, causing untold suffering and death. It then provides examples of some major parasitic infections, their causative agents, and number of people infected and deaths per year. The document goes on to classify parasites and define important terms used in parasitology. It outlines the need to study parasitology and describes modes of transmission, pathogenesis, and other important concepts.

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    1.introduction To Parasitology

    Uploaded by

    Pallavi Uday Naik
    266 views32 pages
    This document provides an introduction to parasitology. It defines parasitology as the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of parasites. It notes that medical parasitology deals specifically with parasites that infect humans. It highlights that many parasites are major causes of public health problems worldwide, causing untold suffering and death. It then provides examples of some major parasitic infections, their causative agents, and number of people infected and deaths per year. The document goes on to classify parasites and define important terms used in parasitology. It outlines the need to study parasitology and describes modes of transmission, pathogenesis, and other important concepts.

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    1.introduction to parasitology

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    This document provides an introduction to parasitology. It defines parasitology as the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of parasites. It notes that medical parasitology deals specifically with parasites that infect humans. It highlights that many parasites are major causes of public health problems worldwide, causing untold suffering and death. It then provides examples of some major parasitic infections, their causative agents, and number of people infected and deaths per year. The document goes on to classify parasites and define important terms used in parasitology. It outlines the need to study parasitology and describes modes of transmission, pathogenesis, and other important concepts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    266 views32 pages

    1.introduction To Parasitology

    Uploaded by

    Pallavi Uday Naik
    This document provides an introduction to parasitology. It defines parasitology as the branch of microbiology that deals with the study of parasites. It notes that medical parasitology deals specifically with parasites that infect humans. It highlights that many parasites are major causes of public health problems worldwide, causing untold suffering and death. It then provides examples of some major parasitic infections, their causative agents, and number of people infected and deaths per year. The document goes on to classify parasites and define important terms used in parasitology. It outlines the need to study parasitology and describes modes of transmission, pathogenesis, and other important concepts.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 32
    At a glance
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    The key takeaways are that parasitology is the study of parasites and their interactions with host organisms. Parasitic infections can cause major public health problems worldwide and lead to millions of deaths each year.

    The major classifications of parasites are protozoa, helminths, and amoebae. Helminths are further divided into trematodes, cestodes, and nematodes.

    Some examples of terms used in parasitology are parasite, host, ectoparasite, endoparasite, temporary parasite, permanent parasite, facultative parasite, and obligatory parasite.

    INTRODUCTION

    TO PARASITOLOGY
    Definition

    • Parasitology : branch of microbiology that deals with the


    study of parasites

    • Medical parasitology : is the branch of parasitology that deals with


    the study of parasites which infect the
    human beings and the disease they produce
    What is the need to study parasitology?

    • Many of these parasites are causative agents of major public


    health problems of the world.
     
    • These parasites cause untold suffering and death in the world
    today.

    3
    The burden of some major parasitic infections
    Parasite Diseases No. people infected Deaths/yr
    Plasmodium malaria 273 million 1.12 million

    Soil transmitted helminths: 2 billion 200,000

    Roundworm (Ascaris) Pnemonitis, intestinal obstruction

    Whipworm (Trichuris) Bloody diarrhoea, rectal prolapse

    Hookworm (Ancylostoma and Coughing, wheezing, abdominal


    Necator) pain and anaemia

    Schistosoma Renal tract and intestinal disease 200 million 15,000

    Filariae Lymphatic filariasis and 120 million Not fatal but 40


    elephantiasis million disfigured or
    incapacitated

    Trypanasoma cruzi Chagas disease (cardiovascular) 13 million 14,000

    African trypanosomes African sleeping sickness 0.3 – 0.5 million 48,000


    Leishamania Cutaneous, mucocutaneous and 12 million; 2 million new 50,000
    visceral leishmaniasis cases/yr

    4
    CLASSIFICATION OF PARASITES
    Parasites

    Protozoa Helminths

    Amoebae Flagellates Sporozoa Ciliates

    Examples: Examples: Examples: Examples:


    Entamoeba Leishmania Plasmodium Balantidium
    Naegleria Giardia Toxoplasma
    Trichomonas

    Trematodes
    Nematodes Cestodes
    (leaf like)
    Examples: Examples: Examples:
    Fasciola Taenia
    Ascaris
    Schistosoma Echinococcus
    Ankylostoma
    Terms employed in Parasitology:

    Parasite : a living organism which receives nourishment and


    shelter from another organism where it lives.

    Host : an organism which harbors the parasite.

    Ectoparasite : Inhabit the body surface only, without penetrating


    into tissues(lice, ticks, mites)

    Endoparasite : live within the body of the host(protozoa,


    helminths)
    • Temporary parasite : visits its host for a short period

    • Permanent parasite : leads a parasitic life throughout the


    whole period of its life.

    • Facultative parasite : lives a parasitic life when opportunity


    arises

    • Obligatory parasite : cannot exist without a parasitic life


    Association of living things which live together:

    Symbiosis : both the organisms are dependent on each other


    : one cannot live without the help of other
    : no harm

    Commensalism : parasite derives benefit without causing damage

    to the host
    : lead an independent life.

    Parasitism : parasite derives benefit, host suffers some injury


    : no independent life
    Classes of host:

    Definitive host : the host in which adult stage lives /sexual


    mode of reproduction takes place.
    : in majority of human infections man is the
    definitive host.

    Intermediate host : larval stage of the parasite lives / asexual


    multiplication takes place
    : man is the intermediate host in malaria,
    hydatid disease

    Paratenic host : a host where the parasite remains viable


    without further development
    : the host may serve to pass on the infection to
    another(carrier/transport host)
    Nomenclature of parasites:

     Generic name
     Specific name

    • Ascaris lumbricoides Linnaeus,1758


    Scheme followed in parasitological studies:

    • History of the discovery of the parasite


    • Geographical distribution
    • Habitat
    • Morphology and life cycle
    • Modes of infection
    • Effect of the parasite
    • Immunological responses
    • Methods of specific diagnosis
    • Approved therapy for the eradication of parasitic infection
    • Prophylactic measures
    Sources of infection

    Soil:

    • Embryonated eggs which are present in the soil may be ingested


    e.g. round worm, whip worm

    • Infective larvae present in soil may penetrate the exposed skin


    e.g. hookworm, strongyloides
    Water:

    • Infective forms present in water may be swallowed


    e.g. cysts of amoeba and giardia

    • Water containing intermediate hosts may be swallowed


    e.g. infection with guinea worm occurs when water containing
    intermediate host - cyclops is drunk

    • Infective larvae may penetrate the exposed skin


    e.g. cercariae of schistosomes

    • Free living parasites in water may enter through vulnerable sites


    e.g. Naegleria may enter through nasopharynx and
    cause meningoencephalitis
    Food
    • Contamination with human or animal feces,
    E.g.amoebic cysts,
    • Meat containing infective larvae
    E.g. measly pork, Trihinella spiralis

    Insect vectors
    • Biological vectors
    Mosquito- malaria, filariasis
    Sandflies - kala azar
    • Mechanical vectors
    Housefly - amoebiasis
    Biological vectors - parasites undergo development/multiplication
    in the body of vectors

    Mechanical vectors - transmit infective parasites mechanically,


    - there is no development/multiplication in the
    body of vectors
    - e.g. housefly may passively carry amoebic cysts
    from feces to food
    Animals
    • Domestic
    Cow - beef tape worm
    Pork - pork tapeworm
    Dog - hydatid disease

    • Fish - fish tape worm

    • Molluscs - liver flukes

    Other persons
    Carriers and patients

    Self/autoinfections
    • Finger to mouth transmission e.g. pinworm
    • Internal re- infection e.g. strogyloidosis
    Modes of infection

    Oral transmission
    • Through contaminated food, water, soiled fingers/fomites
    • The infective stages being
    Cysts - Entamoeba histolytica, other intestinal protozoa
    Embryonated eggs-round worm, whip worm, pin worm
    Larval forms - beef/pork/fish tapeworm infections
    Skin transmission
    • Hook worm infection-larvae enters the skin of persons walking
    barefooted on contaminated soil
    • Schistosomiasis - cercarial larvae in water penetrates the skin

    Vector transmission:
    Malaria and filariasis - transmitted by blood sucking parasites
    Direct transmission:

     direct person to person contact(kissing) - gingival amoebae


     sexual contact - trichomoniasis
     Congenital infection - malaria, toxoplasmosis
     Iatrogenic infection - transfusion malaria and
    toxoplasmosis after organ transplantation
    Pathogenesis

     Inapparent infection:
    Entamoeba histolytica - commensals/multiplies/no invasion of
    tissues
    Filarial infection - microfilaria are demonstrable/no clinical
    illness

     Destruction of cells:
    Malarial parasites - rupture the infected
    RBCs/anaemia
    Enzymatic lytic necrosis of the cells - Entamoeba histolytica-lyses
    intestinal cells/abscesses&ulcers
     Physical obstruction:
    Intestinal obstruction - by masses of round worms
    Falciparum malaria - blockage of brain capillaries

     Pressure effects:
    Hydatid cyst/parasites in vulnerable sites such as brain and eyes
     Trauma inflicted by parasites:

    Hook worm - bleeding points/anaemia

    Helminth larvae - migration through lungs/rupture of


    pulmonary capillaries

    Round worms - perforate the intestine/peritonitis

    Schistosome eggs with their hooks - tear vesical


    bloodvessels/
    hematuria
     Host response to parasitic infection:

    Filariasis - inflammatory changes/


    fibrosis/lymphatic obstruction/edema

    Escape of fluid from cyst - anaphylactic shock


     Malignancy:
    The liver flukes Clonorchis and Opisthorchis - Ca bile duct
    Schistosoma hematobium - Ca bladder

     Migrating parasites may seed bacteria/viruses in ectopic foci:


    Gram negative bacillary septicaemia - migrating larvae
    of Strogyloides-transports intestinal bacteria to circulation
    Biological incubation period/prepatent period:
    Interval of time between initial infection and the earliest
    appearance of the parasite or its products in blood or secretions.
    e.g. malaria-1wk
    filariasis-year/more

    Infection is said to be patent when the parasite becomes


    demonstrable and the host is potentially infectious to others.

    Clinical incubation period - interval between the initial infection and


    the onset of the first evidence of clinical
    disease
    Immunity in parasitic infections

    Immunological protection against parasitic infections are less


    efficient,
    • Parasites are larger/structurally and antigenically complex
    • Many protozoal antigens are intracellular
    • Protozoa/helminths live inside the body cavities/IgA less
    effective
    • Cysts
    • Surface Ags are similar to host components
    Humoral immune response
    • Igs are produced(important ones are IgM and IgG)
    • Excessive IgE response in intestinal helminthiases

    Cell mediated immune response


    • Employed in diagnostic tests(DTH)
    • But cross reactions are frequent
    • A characteristic cellular response in parasitic infection is
    eosinophilia
    Laboratory diagnosis

    • Blood - malaria, filaria, kala azar

    • Stool - protozoal infections : trophozoites/ cysts


    helminthic infections : eggs/ larvae

    • Urine - vesical schistosomiasis: eggs


    filariasis :chyluria/microfilariae

    • Sputum - amoebic abscess of lung: trophozoites,


    eggs of lung flukes

    • Rupture of hydatid cyst of lung - scolices/hooklets of E. granulosus


    • Duodenal aspirates - trophozoites of G.intestinalis
    larvae of S. stercoralis

    • Vaginal/urethral discharge - T. vaginalis

    • Biopsy material
     Spleen, bone marrow, lymph node puncture - kala azar
     Skin puncture - dermal leishmaniasis
     Muscle biopsy - cysticercosis
     Liver biopsy - visceral schistosomiasis

    • Aspiration of hydatid fluid, amoebic liver abscess, fluid from


    hydrocoele

    • Lumbar puncture- trophozoites of Naegleria/Acanthamoeba


    • X ray/ US/CT scan/MRI

    • Indirect evidences
     Eosinophilia-helminth
     Leucopenia-kala azar
     Neutrophilia-amoebic liver abscess
     Anaemia- hookworm/ malaria

    • Serological tests
    • Skin test
    • Molecular methods
    Treatment
    • specific chemotherapy

    Prophylaxis
    • Therapeutic/drug prophylaxis
    • Eradication of infection in reservoir hosts
    • Personal prophylaxis
    • Avoidance of consumption of raw/ undercooked
    meat/fish/crab

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