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6.4.5: Identifying Parasites
Opening the book…
Parasite Identification Questions
Identify the eukaryotic pathogen seen in each image and answer the associated questions.
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 1. Credit: Sherry Smith
1. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerBalantidium coli
2. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Balantidiasis, also known as ciliary dysentery or Montezuma's revenge
3. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of cysts in contaminated food or drink
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 2. Credit: Sherry Smith
4. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerClonorchis sinensis
5. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer clonorchiasis — characterized by bile duct obstruction, liver abscesses, liver enlargement, and hepatic failure
6. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of metacercariae in undercooked fish
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 3. Credit: Sherry Smith
7. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerTrichuris trichiura
8. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer trichuriasis — light infections are generally asymptomatic; heavy infections may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, weight loss, stunted growth, and rectal prolapse
9. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer embryonated eggs are ingested in contaminated food or drink
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 4. Credit: Sherry Smith
10. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerEnterobius vermicularis
11. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Enterobiasis — cardinal signs include anal itching and irritability at night
12. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of embryonated eggs, which may occur through self-infection or person-to-person transmission through contaminated clothing, bed linens, etc.
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 5. Credit: Sherry Smith
13. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerTrichinella spiralis
14. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
15. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of meat containing cysts, usually undercooked pork, but it can also be transmitted by undercooked wild game such as bear
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 6. Credit: Sherry Smith
16. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerTrichomonas vaginalis
17. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer trichomoniasis — females may experience vulvitis, vaginitis, cervicitis, and salpingitis; males may experience urethritis, prostatitis, and epididymitis
18. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer sexual intercourse
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 7. Credit: Sherry Smith
19. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerTrypanosoma cruzi
20. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Chaga's disease
21. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer bite of a Reduviid bug
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 8. Credit: Sherry Smith
22. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerDipylidium caninum
23. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer infection may be asymptomatic or may cause mild gastrointestinal disturbances, including passage of proglottids in feces
24. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of the flea that carries the larvae
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 9. Credit: Sherry Smith
25. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerRhizopus spp.
26. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Zygomycosis, also known as mucormycosis — a serious but rare fungal infection that may affect nearly any part of the body, but more commonly affects the sinuses and/or the lungs
27. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer contact with fungal spores in the environment
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 10. Credit: Sherry Smith
28. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerAspergillus spp.
29. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Aspergillosis — most commonly causes only allergies, though immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk of developing more severe conditions
30. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer inhalation of fungal spores
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 11. Credit: Sherry Smith
31. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerGiardia lamblia
32. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Giardiasis, also known as beaver fever or traveler's diarrhea
33. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer inadvertent ingestion of water contaminated with cysts
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 12. Credit: Sherry Smith
34. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerAscaris lumbricoides
35. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer ascariasis — may be asymptomatic; if the worm burden is high, symptoms may include pulmonary complaints (cough, difficulty breathing, bloody sputum), gastrointestinal complaints (abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, intestinal obstruction), and retarded physical and mental development in children
36. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer ingestion of embryonated eggs in fecal contaminated food, or from hands contaminated with soil containing embryonated eggs
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 13. Credit: Sherry Smith
37. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerSchistosoma mansoni
38. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Schistosomiasis — initially causes a creeping eruption of the skin with itchiness near the site of cercarial entry, followed by fever, cough, diarrhea, liver enlargement, and high blood pressure and ascites due to liver malfunction
39. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer cercariae in contaminated freshwater burrow through the skin
Eukaryotic pathogen identification image 14. Credit: Sherry Smith
40. What is the scientific name of the parasite seen in the image?
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AnswerHymenolepis nana
41. What disease is caused by the organism seen in the image?
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Answer Hymenolepiasis — usually asymptomatic; heavy infections may cause nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and anal itching
42. How is the organism seen in the image acquired?
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Answer accidental ingestion of eggs, through human to human contact, the fecal-oral route, or self inoculation
