Diagnosing Parasitic Infections
Firza Alexander Gronthoud in Practical Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 2020
Parasites can be classified as protozoa, helminths (worms) and ectoparasites. Protozoa are unicellular organisms and can be broadly divided into intestinal and luminal protozoa such as Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp. and blood- and tissue-dwelling protozoa such as malaria, Leishmania, Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas) and Trypanosoma brucei (African sleeping sickness). Helminths are multicellular organisms and are associated with intestinal infections or tissue infections. They can be divided into nematodes (Ascaris spp., Strongyloides stercoralis and hook worm), trematodes or flukes (Schistosoma spp., Fasciola hepatica, Paragonimus westermani) and cestodes (Taenia spp. and Hymenolepis nana). Ectoparasites are also multicellular organisms that infest the skin and feed on it. Examples of ectoparasites are scabies, myiasis, tungiasis, fleas and lice.
Unexplained Fever In Infectious Diseases: Section 2: Commonly Encountered Aerobic, Facultative Anaerobic, And Strict Anaerobic Bacteria, Spirochetes, And Parasites
Benedict Isaac, Serge Kernbaum, Michael Burke in Unexplained Fever, 2019
Infection by certain parasites may create problems of unexplained fever. Some infestations due to protozoa and worms may evolve with fever and they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of many illnesses. Of particular importance in the medical history, are animal contact, ingestion of infected food, socioeconomic status, and transfusions. Parasitic diseases are relatively easily confirmed by detection of ova and/or parasites in stool specimen or by serologic tests. Eosinophilia is frequent and is an important ancillary test in diagnosis. Once diagnosed, we have at our disposal several effective therapeutic agents. Many of the protozoan and helminthic diseases are discussed in Chapters 7 and 18. Here, we shall comment only on some diseases not fully discussed elsewhere.
Candida and parasitic infection: Helminths, trichomoniasis, lice, scabies, and malaria
Hung N. Winn, Frank A. Chervenak, Roberto Romero in Clinical Maternal-Fetal Medicine Online, 2021
A description of the classification system for helminths is followed by review of the more commonly identified helminths. The chapter is completed by a description of the commonly used anthelmintic agents and their status for use in pregnancy and lactation. Treatment recommendations for all of the helminths detailed in this chapter are based on (i) the current treatment guidelines in the CDC parasites A to Z Web site (www.cdc.gov/parasites/az/index.html) section for each organism (obtained by selecting the organism from the index and then selecting “Resources for Health Care Professions”) or (ii) The Medical Letter article entitled “Drugs for Parasitic Infections” available at The Medical Letter Web site (www.medicalletter.org). Additional information regarding laboratory diagnosis of helminthic infections can be obtained at the DPDx Web site (www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/DiagnosticProcedures.htm), which is a service of the CDC Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria. Links to the applicable sections of the Medical Letter “Drugs for Parasitic Infections” may also be accessed via the treatment tab for each organism on the DPDx Web site.
Parasitic infections of the gut in children
Published in Paediatrics and International Child Health, 2019
Kapula Chifunda, Paul Kelly
Parasitic infections of the gut are responsible for a very large burden of morbidity and mortality in tropical and low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). These infectious diseases, however, are not confined to LMIC. Cryptosporidiosis, for example, has caused massive outbreaks in the USA, and giardiasis is also globally distributed. Strictly speaking, a parasite is merely an organism which lives on or in another organism without conferring any benefit to the host, and usually to its disadvantage. In common medical usage, however, the term ‘parasite’ refers to protozoa, helminths or insects rather than bacteria or viruses. This article also includes some recognised fungal infections of the gut. Only the most important parasites are described, and for less prevalent pathogens more detailed articles should be consulted [1–3]. Life cycles and detailed parasitological descriptions will not be given here.
Modeling and analysis of a fractional anthroponotic cutaneous leishmania model with Atangana-Baleanu derivative
Published in Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering, 2022
Ikramul Haq, Amir Khan, Saeed Ahmad, Amir Ali, Mati Ur Rahman
Mathematical modeling of infectious disease has a significant role in disease epidemiology in order to well describe the dynamics of the disease and to suggest the best possible way to control it (Li, Bayatti, et al. 2021; Li, Gul, et al. 2021; Li, Wang, et al. 2021; Shen et al. 2021). Leishmaniosis Anthroponotic cutaneous (ACL) is a type of infection which is transmitted due to the Leishmania tropica parasite virus. This virus is found mostly in human beings where the sand fly occurs and this phenomena is called phlebotomus sergenti. The color of this parasite is like sand and is very small height of about two and a half millimeters. The flies of these parasites are in search of blood and breeding in cuddles, beaches, and different forests. It action period is nearly from three to seven days (Sacks and Perkins 1985). About four different types of syndromes have been discovered of the Leishmaniosis. The ACL, Leishmaniosis of Muco-cutaneous (MCL), the Leishmaniosis of Visceral (VL) and the Post-kala-azar dermal (PKDL). Among them mostly tested Leishmania is of cutaneous Leishmaniosis (ACL) whose time of incubation is nearly two to eight weeks. But still there are some differences in this period. The infection of this parasite mostly damage the out side or exposure parts of human bodies e.g. foots, hands and faces. Nearly 1.5 million peoples got infection from ACL per year and are highly tested from western Asia countries of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan and the Africans countries of Peru and Algeria.
The impact of water crises and climate changes on the transmission of protozoan parasites in Africa
Published in Pathogens and Global Health, 2018
Shahira A. Ahmed, Milena Guerrero Flórez, Panagiotis Karanis
Entamoeba spp., were presented in ten African countries (Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Sudan, Nigeria, Morocco, Ethiopia, Egypt, Cote d´Ivoire, Cameroon, Burkina Fasso). Diarrhea and dysentery are the most common symptoms after infection with this parasite. Extra-intestinal complications are less frequent to occur; however, high mortality can be associated. In recent cross sectional study in South Africa, E. histolytica was highly loaded in the diarrhea samples [40]. In Ethiopian patients, Entamoeba spp. were the highest predominant protozoa in the diarrhea samples from adults [41] and one of the most identified parasites in children under five years [42]. In Cameroon, Egypt and Sudan, Entamoeba spp., were detected in drinking water [42–44]. Direct wet mount/iodine is a simple, cost effective popular method used in African reports to identify cysts of Entamoeba spp. in water samples which probably raises its reporting numbers.
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