Biology

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Classification of Fungi based on the Host parasitic Relationship

Based on the host parasitic relationship the fungi are grouped into three types.

a. Commensalism:

The fungus neither gets benefit nor harmed by the host parasitic relationship.

b. Mutualism:

The fungus benefited from the host parasitic relationship.

c. Parasitism:

The host is harmed by the fungus in host parasitic relationship.

Mycoses

Diseases caused by the medically important fungi are called Mycoses. Based on their wide spectrum of adaptability, fungi causing human mycoses can be categorized into:

a. Pathogenic fungi:

The ability of the fungi to adapt to skin flora and cause infection.

b. Opportunistic fungi:

When the immune status of the host is reduced, fungi will induce or cause infection.

c. Toxigenic fungi:

Toxins produced by fungi are responsible for the illness or death of patients after ingestion of the contaminated food.

d. Allergenic fungi:

Allergens are secreted by the fungi which cause allergic reaction in the human beings. Mycoses are classified according to the specific site of involvement.

a. Superficial Mycoses:

The infection is limited to the outer most layers of the skin and its appendages.

Example:
Malassezia and Piedra infection

b. Cutaneous Mycoses:

The infection extends deeper into the epidermis and it also invades hair and nails.

Example:
Dermatophytoses.

c. Sub cutaneous Mycoses:

The infection extends to dermis, subcutaneous tissue and muscles by any traumatic injury.

Example:
Mycetoma

d. Systemic Mycoses:

The infection originates from lungs and later spreads systemically to other organs. Systemic mycoses along with the opportunistic fungal infection are known as deep mycoses.

Example:
Cryptococcosis

e. Opportunistic Mycoses:

The infection occurs when the immune status of the individuals is altered. It is common among immune compromised and immune suppressed patients.

Example:
Candidiasis

Aeromycology

The Aeromycology is the study of air borne fungi, its types and the seasonal variations of allergenic fungal spores in the environment. There are certain fungal pathogens which cause infections associated with workers in mycological laboratories.

To avoid this safety procedures and equipments safety levels or bio safety levels (BSL) are used. BSL – 1 is used for low – risk microorganisms and BSL – 4 is used for highly risk pathogens.

Characteristics of Fungi

Fungi are heterotrophic organisms that exist as saprophytes, commensal or parasites. They are found on decaying vegetative matter and also in soil. Morphological features, cell structure, reproduction, nutritional requirement and thermal dimorphism in the pathogenic fungi are described as follows:

i. Morphological Features

Fungi are eukaryotic with well defined cell wall and intra cellular membrane bound organelles. The cell wall is composed of polysaccharides and chitin. Fungi vary in size and shape. They are broadly divided into two main groups.

a. Yeasts:

The yeasts are unicellular organisms which reproduce by asexual process known as budding or by fission. The cell develops a protuberance that enlarges and separates from the parental cell. The yeasts produce chains of elongated cells known as Pseudohyphae.

Some yeasts reproduce by sexual process Example: Cryptococcus neoformans. Germ tube is special morphology found in Candida albicans. Some are commensal without any medical significance.

b. Molds:

The molds grow by apical extension, forming an interwoven mass called as Mycelium, branching filaments known as hyphae. Hyphae that grow on the surface are called vegetative hyphae. They are responsible for the absorption of nutrients. The hyphae that project above the surface are called aerial hyphae and they produce specialized reproductive structures called as conidia.

Depending on cell morphology fungi are divided into four types, they are Yeasts: These are unicellular organisms that divide by budding (Figure 9.1 a & b). Example: Cryptococcus neoformans (Pathogenic), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Non pathogenic).

Yeast – like fungi:

These fungi reproduce by budding but fails to separate and hence elongation takes place forming pseudohyphae. Example: Candida species (Pathogenic).

Molds:

These fungi produce spores which germinate to form vegetative hyphae (Figure 9.2).

Example:
Dermatophytes, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mucor.

Dimorphic fungi:
These Fungi exist in both yeast at 37°C and filamentous form at 25°C. This Phenomenon is known as Fungal dimorphism (Figure 9.3).

Example:
Histoplasma capsulatum, Blastomyces dermatitidis.

Phaeoid fungi:

Most of true pathogenic fungi are dimorphic fungi which are composed of darkly coloured hyphal form known as dematiaceous fungi. Some are yeast like and also known as black yeasts.

Vegetative Structures:

Several structures are formed by the vegetative mycelia that have no reproductive value but are important for the differentiation of fungi eg. Chlamydospores and Arthrospores. Chlamydospores are thick walled, resistant to adverse conditions and are larger than other cells. Arthrospores are rectangular spores which are thick walled that are disposed on maturity.

ii. Cell structure

a. Capsule:
Fungi produce an extra cellular polysaccharide in the form of capsule. Example: Cryptococcus.

b. Cell wall:
Fungi possess a multilayered rigid cell wall exterior to the plasma lemma. The cell wall is made up of chitin, a water insoluble, homopolymer of N-acetyl glucosamine. Chitin synthase is responsible for the bio synthesis of chitin.

c. Plasmalemma:
Cytoplasmic membrane or plasmalemma encloses complex cytosol. It is composed of glycoprotein, lipids and ergosterol.

d. Cytosol:
Cytosol comprises of mitochondria, microtubules, ribosomes, golgi apparatus, double membrane endoplasmic reticulum and Nucleus. The nuclei of the fungi are enclosed by a membrane and contain most of cellular DNA.

iii. Reproduction of fungi

Spores play a major role in reproduction. There may be asexual or sexual cell divisions.

a. Asexual Reproduction:

The asexual reproduction involves, budding or fission or mitosis. Fungi produce more than one type of asexual spores. They are microspores (microconidia) and macrospores (macroconidia).

Spores that are present inside sporangium are known as sporangiospores and those that are borne exogenously are called conidiospores (Figure 9.4). Based on the arrangement of conidia they are classified as Acropetal, Basipetal and Sympodial.

b. Sexual Reproduction:

The process of sexual reproduction typically consists of plasmogamy (cytoplasmic fusion), Karyogamy (union of two nuclei) and meiosis (haploid formation). Anamorphs and Telomorphs are the 2 phases of sexual reproduction.

c. Mycelia Sterile:

Mycelia sterile are fast growing molds that do not produce spores or conidia. They are medically significant fungi and are difficult to identify.

iv. Growth and nutrition

Fungi are ubiquitous in nature and grow readily in the presence of nitrogen and carbohydrates. Medically significant fungi are Mesophilic. The optimum temperature invitro for majority of the pathogenic fungi is between 25°C and 37°C.

The fungi prefer acidic pH; do not require light for their growth. All fungi are heterotrophs requiring organic nutrients. They absorb their nutrient and do not ingest food. Medically significant fungi are facultative
parasites, capable of causing disease or living on dead organic matter.

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Ascaris Lumbricoides

Geographical Distribution

It is the most common of human helminthes and is distributed worldwide.

Habitat

The adult worms lives in the small intestine particularly in jejunum and in ileum.

Morphology

Adult worm Ascaris lumbricoides resembles and sometimes confused with the earthworm. Its specific name lumbricoides means earthworm in Latin. Male and Female worm of Ascaris lumbricoides are shown in Figure 8.15.

1. They are large cylindrical worms with tapering ends. The anterior end being thinner than the posterior end. It is the largest intestinal nematode parasitizing man.
2. The life – span of the adult worm is less than a year.

Male worm

• The adult male worm is smaller than female worms.
• The tail – end (Posterior end) of the male worm is curved ventrally to form a hook and 2 curved copulatory spicules.

Female worm

• The adult female worm is larger (20-40 cm) and thicker (3-6 mm) than male worm.
• The posterior end is conical and straight. The anus is in the sub terminal part and opens like a transverse slit on the ventral surface.
• The vulva is situated mid – ventrally, near the junction of the anterior and middle thirds of the body. This part of the worm is narrow and is called the vulvar waist.
• A single worm lays up to 200,000 eggs per day.

Egg:

Two types of eggs are passed in feces by the worms.

Fertilized Egg

• The fertilized eggs are produced by fertilized females.
• The eggs are round or oval in shape and measures 45 µm in length and 35 µm to 50µm in breadth.
• They are bile – stained and appear as golden brown (brownish) in colour.
• The egg is surrounded by a thick smooth shell with an outer albuminous coat (corticated eggs). Sometimes this outer coat is lost in few eggs. Those eggs are called as decorticated eggs (Figure 8.16).
• Each egg contains a large unsegmented ovum with a clear crescentic area at each pole. The eggs float in saturated solution of common salt.
  

Unfertilized egg

• The female even not fertilized by male is capable of liberating eggs. These unfertilized eggs are narrower, longer and elliptical in shape.
• These are heaviest of all the helminthic eggs – It measures about 80µm × 105µm in size.
• The eggs have a thinner shell with an irregular coating of albumin (Figure 8.16).
• These eggs do not float in saturated solution of common salt.

Life – Cycle

The life – cycle of A. lumbricoides is completed in a single host, human (Figure 8.17).

Infective form:

Ermbryonated eggs. The fertilized egg passed in feces is not immediately infective. It has to undergo a period of development in soil. The development usually takes from 10-40 days. The embryo moults twice during the time and becomes the infective rhabditiform larva.

Mode of transmission:

Man acquires the infection by ingestion of food, water or raw vegetables contaminated with embryonated eggs of the round worm. The ingested eggs reach the duodenum to liberate the larvae by hatching. These larvae then penetrate the intestinal wall and are carried by the portal circulation to the liver. They live in liver for 3 to 4 days. Then they are carried to the right side of the heart, then to lung. In the lung, they grow and moult twice.

After development in the lungs, in about 10-15 days, the larvae pierce the lung capillaries and reach the alveoli. Then they are carried up the respiratory passage to the throat and swallowed back to the small intestine.

In the small intestine, the larvae moult finally and develop into adults. They become sexually mature in about 6-12 weeks. The fertilized female start laying eggs which are passed in the faces to repeat the cycle.

Pathogenesis

Infection of A. lumbricoides in human is known as ascariasis. The adult worm may produce its pathogenic effects in the following ways.

a. The spoliative or nutritional effects is usually seen when the worm burden is heavy. Presence of enormous numbers (sometime exceeds 500) often interferes with proper digestion and absorption of food. Ascariasis may contribute to protein – energy malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency.

b. The toxic effects is due to the metabolites of adult worm. Ascaris allergens produce various allergic manifestations such as fever, urticaria and conjunctivitis.

c. The mechanical effects are the most important manifestations of ascariasis. In heavy infections, adult worms can cause obstruction and inflammation of intestinal tract, particularly of the terminal ileum.

d. Ectopic ascariasis (Wander lust) is due to the adult male worms. They are restless wanderers. The wandering happens when the host temperature rises above 39°C. The worm may wander up or down along the gut. It may enter the biliary or pancreatic duct causing acute biliary obstruction or pancreatitis. It may enter the liver and lead to liver abscesses.

The worm may go up the esophagus and come out through mouth or nose. It may crawl into the trachea and the lung causing respirator obstruction or lung abscesses. Migrating downwards, the worm may cause obstructive appendicitis. The worm may also reach kidneys. “Larva migrans” is a term used when the larval sworms migrate to various parts of the body.

Clinical Manifestations

Incubation Period is 60-70 days. Clinical manifestations due to adult worm vary from asymptomatic to severe and even fatal infection. Clinical manifestation in ascariasis can be caused either by the migrating larvae or by the adult worms.

Symptoms due to the migrating larvae:

Leads to ascaris pneumonia and larvae may enter the general circulation, disturbances have been reported in the brain, spinal cord, heart and kidneys.

Symptoms due to the adult worms:

Diffuse or epigastric abdominal pain, abdominal cramping, abdominal swelling (especially in children), fever, nausea, vomiting and passing roundworms and their eggs in the stool.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Specimen collected: Stool, sputum and blood.

Detection of parasite

Adult worm:
It can be detected in stool or sputum of patient by naked eye. Pancreatic or biliary worms can be detected by ultra-sound and endoscope.

Larvae:
Larvae can be detected in sputum and often in gastric washings. Chest X – ray may show pulmonary infiltrates.

Eggs:
Detection is through demonstration of eggs in feces. Detection of both fertilized and unfertilized eggs are made after staining. Eggs may be demonstrative in the bile obtained by duodenal aspirates.

Blood Examination
Complete blood count may show eosinophilia in early stage of infection.

Serological tests
Ascaris antibody can be detected by IHA, IFA and ELISA

Treatment
Commonly used drugs are Albendazole and Mebendazole.

Prevention and Control

• Proper health education should be given for improved sanitation and personal hygiene.
• Avoid eating of uncooked green vegetable, food preparation and fruits that may contain faecal eggs.
• Treating infected persons especially children. Deworming of school children have been found effective in control of ascariasis.

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Plasmodium Falciparum and P. vivax (Sporozoa – Plasmodium)

Protozoan parasites characterised by the production of spore – like oocysts containing sporozoites were known as sporozoa. The parasites belonging to this group of protozoa do not possess any special organs of locomotion, such as flagella or cilia. The medically important parasite of this class that is given in the
text is malarial parasite.

Malaria

It is the disease condition with seasonal intermittent fevers, chills and shivering. The name malaria (Mal: bad, aria: air) was given in the 18^th century in Italy. The specific agent of malaria was discovered in RBC’s of a patient in 1880 by Alphonse Laveran.

In 1897, Ronald Ross identified the developing stages of malarial parasites in mosquitoes in Secunderabad, India. This led to various measures for the control and possible eradication of malaria by mosquito control. Both Ross (1902) and Laveran (1907) won the Nobel Prize for their discoveries in malaria.

Causative agents of human malaria:

The organisms: Four species of Plasmodium cause malaria in humans.

• Plasmodium vivax: (Benign Tertian malaria)
• Plasmodium falciparum: (Malignant tertian malaria)
• Plasmodium malaria: (Benign Quartan malaria)
• Plasmodium ovale: (Benign tertian malaria)

The two most common species are P. vivax and P. falciparum, WHO reports (2018) that falciparum being the most pathogenic of all.

Geographical Distribution

Malarial parasites are found in all countries. In India, malaria continues to be a major public health threat.

Habitat

The malarial parasites infecting man, after passing through a developmental phase in the parenchyma cells of the liver, reside inside the red blood corpuscles and are carried by the circulating blood to all the organs.

Vectors

Human malaria is transmitted by over 60 species of female Anopheles mosquito.

Human malarial parasite – Plasmodium falciparum

Of all the human malaria parasites, P. falciparum is the most highly pathogenic and responsible for malignant tertian malaria. This is a form of disease which runs an acute course in non-immune patients and is frequently fatal if untreated.

Life Cycle

The malaria parasite passes its life cycle in two different hosts and comprises of two phase as follows,

Definitive host:

Female Anopheles mosquito (a sexual phase of parasite occurs).

Intermediatehost:

Human (an asexual phase of parasite occurs). Thus, life cycle of malaria parasite show alternation of generations – asexual and sexual generation in two different hosts (Figure 8.12).

Human Cycle (Asexual Phase – Schizogony)

Human infection occurs when the sporozoites (the infective forms of the parasite are present in the salivary gland of the mosquito) are injected into blood capillaries when the mosquito feeds on blood after piercing the skin. The malarial parasite multiplies by division and the process designated as Schizogony (schizo: to split, gone: generation).

Sporozoites are minute thread-like curved organisms with tapering ends. Measuring 9-12µ in length with a central elongated nucleus while, the cytoplasm reveals no pigment as seen with a light microscope. In human, schizogony occurs in two locations. One in the red blood cells (erythrocytic schizogony) and other
in the liver cells (pre – or exoerythrocytic schizogony).

A. Pre-erythrocytic or Exoerythrocytic schigony

• Sporozoites do not directly enter the RBC’s to initiate erythrocytic schizogony, but undergo developmental phase in other human tissues.
• This cycle lasts for about 8 days in Plasmodium vivax, 6 days in P. falciparum and 9 days in P. ovale.
• This pre-erythrocytic schizogony occurs within parenchymal cells of the liver.
• The Sporozoites, which are elongated spindle – shaped bodies, become rounded inside the liver cells.
• They enlarge in size and undergo repeated nuclear division to form several daughter nuclei, each of which is surrounded by cytoplasm.
• This stage of the parasite is called the pre-erythrocytic or exoerthrocytic schizont or merozoites.
• The heptocyte is distended by the enlarging schizont and the liver cell nucleus is pushed to the periphery.
• Mature liver stage schizonts are spherical multinucleate and contain 2000-50,000 uninucleate merozoites.
• These normally rupture in 6-15 days and release thousands of merozoites into the blood stream.
• They do not return from red blood cells to liver cells.

Plasmodium vivax and P. ovale – parasites in liver tissue are called hypnozoites.

B. Erythrocyticstage

• The merozoites released by pre-erythrocytic schizonts invade the red blood cells (Parasitaemia).
• Merozoites are pear – shaped bodies, about 1.5 µm in length.
• In the erythrocyte, the merozoite loses its internal organelles and appears as rounded body having a vacuole in the center with the cytoplasm pushed to the periphery and the nucleus at one pole. These forms are called ring forms or young trophozoites.
• The parasite feeds on the hemoglobin of the erythrocyte. They incompletely metabolize hemoglobin therefore, hematin – globin pigment or haemozoin pigment is left behind.
• The malaria pigment released when the parasitized cells rupture is taken up by recticuloendothelial cells.
• The ring form develops and becomes irregular in shape and shows amoeboid motility. This is called the amoeboid form.
• When the amoeboid form reaches a certain stage of development, its nucleus starts dividing by mitosis followed by a division of cytoplasm to become mature schizonts or merozoites.
• A mature schizont contains 8-32 merozoites and haemozoin. The mature schizont bursts releasing the merozoites into the circulation.
• The merozoites invade fresh erythrocytes within which they go through the same process of development. This cycle is called erythrocytic schizogony.
• The rupture of the mature schizont releases large quantities of pyrogens. This is responsible for the febrile paroxysms characterising malaria.
• In P. falciparum, erythrocytic schizogony always takes place inside the capillaries and vascular regions of internal organs. Therefore, in these infections, schizonts and merozoites are usually not seen in the peripheral blood.

C. Gametogony

• Some of the merozoites, after a few erythrocytic cycles do not develop into trophozoites and schizonts but they undergo sexual differentiation to develop into the gametocytes.
• Development of gametocytes takes place within the internal organs and only the mature forms appear in circulation.
• The mature gametocytes in P. falciparum are crescent shaped.
• Female gametocytes are generally more numerous and larger.
• Male gametocytes and female gametocytes are called micro gametocytes and macro gametocytes respectively.
• Gametocyte appears in 10-12 days in P. falciparum.
• The gametocytes do not cause any clinical illness in the host, but are essential for transmission of the infection.
• A person who harbors the gametocytes is referred to as a carrier or reservoir.

Mosquito Cycle (Sexual Cycle – Sporogony)

• A Female Anopheles mosquito during its blood – meal from an infected person, sucks up both the sexual and asexual forms of parasite. But, only the mature sexual forms develop and the rest die.
• The gametocytes are set free in the midgut (stomach) of mosquito and undergo further development.
• The nuclear material and cytoplasm of the male gametocyte divides to produce long, actively motile, whip – like forms of 8 microgametes. This process is called exflagellation of male gametocytes.
• The Exflagellation is completed within 15-30 minutes for P. falciparum.
• The female gametocyte does not divide but maturation involves by condensation of nucleus to become the female gamete.
• Female gamete is fertilized by one of the microgametes to produce the zygote. The zygote is formed in 20-120 minutes after the blood meal. The zygote is initially is a non – motile round body, but within 18-24 hours, it gradually elongates into a vermicular motile form. This is called the ookinete.
• Ookinete penetrates the epithelial lining of stomach wall. Their anterior end comes in close contact to the cell membrane by secretion of some proteolytic substances which causes lysis of cell membrane. Later, the ookinete come to lie just beneath the basement membrane.
• It becomes rounded into a sphere with an elastic membrane. This stage is called the oocyst. The oocyst increase in size and undergo numerous nuclear multiplication which develops a large number of sickle shaped bodies known as sporozoites.
• Number of oocysts in the stomach wall varies from a few to over a hundred.
• Around the 10th day of infection the oocyst ruptures, releasing sporozoites in the body cavity of the mosquitos.
• The sporozoites are distributed through the circulating fluid into various organs and tissues of the mosquito except the ovaries.
• The sporozoites have a special affinity towards the salivary glands. The mosquito at this stage is capable of transmitting infection to man.

Pathogenesis

In malaria, typical pathological changes are seen primarily in the spleen, liver, bone marrow, lungs, kidney and brain.

Liver:
The liver is enlarged. The organ becomes more firm and pigmented. Pigments are found in parenchymal cells.

Spleen:
The spleen is markedly enlarged. If the infection lasts over a long period, the spleen is usually grayish, dark brown or even black and is commonly known as ‘ague cake’. Bone marrow, Lungs, Kidneys and Brain are enlarged and pigmented. They are filled with parasitized erythrocytes.

Anemia is caused by destruction of large number of red cells by complement mediated and autoimmune hemolysis. It is also due to the increased clearance of both parasites and parasitized RBCs by the spleen.

Clinical Manifestations

The incubation period is generally 9-14 days but, it can be as short as 7 days. The most malignant form of malaria is caused by P. falciparum hence, variable clinical syndromes are associated with falciparum malaria. That include,

1. Prodromal (initial indication of the onset of disease) period:

Non – specific symptoms such as malaise (condition of general weakness or discomfort), myalgia
(severe muscle pain) headache and fatigue (feeling of tiredness) are usually seen during the prodromal period.

2. Malarial paroxysm (sudden onset of disease):

It is the classical manifestation of acute malaria. It is characterised by fever, chill and rigor (sudden feelings of cold with shivering).The fever is caused by rupture of red blood cells that contain malarial parasites. The fever occurs every 48 hours in falciparum malaria.

3. Anemia (A condition in which the blood does not have enough healthy Red Blood cells) and

4. Hepatosplenomegaly (simultaneously enlargement of both the liver and the spleen)

The symptoms are non – specific with headache, pains in back and limbs, anorexia, nausea and a feeling of chill rather than a distinct cold phase. Hyponatremia (A condition that occurs when the level of Sodium in the blood is too low) occur in both uncomplicated and severe malaria.

Complications of Severe

Falciparum Malaria

1. Black water fever

The syndrome is the manifestation of repeated infections of falciparum malaria, which were inadequately treated with quinine. The condition is associated with haemoglobinaemia (excess of hemoglobin in the blood plasma) and haemoglobinuria (excretion of free haemoglobin in the urine).

The syndrome is known as black water fever due to the dark red to brown – black appearance of the urine in this condition (Figure 8.13). It is dark due to presence of free haemoglobin as methaemoglobin or oxyhaemoglobin in it. Kidney failure is the immediate cause of death.

2. Cerebral malaria

Cerebral malaria is the most common presentation of severe malaria in adult. Cerebral malaria may be sudden in onset. Clinically, the condition manifests with fever for 4-5 days, slowly lapsing into coma, with or without convulsions.

It is marked by a severe headache, high fever even above 180°F, and changes in mental
status. Death may occur within few hours. Algid malaria and septicemic malaria are also other serious complication of falciparum malaria.

3. Pernicious malaria

The term pernicious malaria is referred to as a series of phenomena that occur during the course of an in treated P. falciparum infection within 1 to 3 days.

Anaemia:

An individual suffering from an attack of malaria, after a few paroxysms becomes temporarily anaemic. The reduction in red blood cells is greater in P. falciparum infection than in infection with P. vivax and P. malariae. This is because P. falciparum invades young and mature erythrocytes and the infection rate
of red blood cells is also greater.

Recrudescence

In P. falciparum and P. malariae infections after the primary attack, sometimes there is a period of latency, during which there is no clinical illness. But some parasites persist in some erythrocytes and gradually increase in numbers.

Fresh malarial attacks then develop. It appears after a period of latency usually within weeks after the primary attacks. Persistence of the erythrocytic cycle of the parasites are called recrudescences. In P. falciparum infections, recrudescences are seen for 1-2 years, while in P. malariae infection, they may last for long periods, even upto 50 years.

Plasmodium vivax

P. vivax shows a similar life cycle in humans and mosquitoes like that of P. falciparum. Except in P. vivax, a latent tissue stage, the hypnozoites present in the liver parenchyma. Relapse in vivax malaria is caused by these hypnozoites. Hypnozoites are the dormant stages of the parasites.

These are single – nucleated parasites measuring 4µm-6µm in diameter. These become active and develop into tissue schizonts after a short period of dormancy. This relapse may occur at intervals up to 3 years or more after the first attack. P. vivax merozoites invade only young erythrocytes and the reticulocytes.

Clinical Manifestations

P. vivax is the most wide spread species causing malaria in man. However, unlike falciparum malaria, vivax malaria, is less severe and death from the condition relatively is less common. Table 8.2 describes the comparison of course of infection in Falciparum malaria with Vivax malaria

Laboratory Diagnosis

Diagnosis of malaria includes:

• Parasitic diagnosis
• Serodiagnosis, and
• Molecular diagnosis

Parasitic diagnosis – Demonstration of parasite by microscopy

Specimen:
Blood

Conventional light microscopy of stained blood smear is the gold standard for confirmation of malaria.

Two types of smears are prepared from the peripheral blood. They are thin and thick smears (Figure 8.14). Ring forms and gametocytes are most commonly seen in the peripheral blood smear. They are thin and thick smears (Figure 8.14). Ring forms and gametocytes are most commonly seen in the peripheral blood smear.

Thin smear They are prepared from capillary blood of fingertip and spread over a good quality slide by a second slide (spreader slide) held at an angle of 30°-45° from the horizontal such that a tail is formed. Thin smears thus prepared are air dried, fixed in alcohol and stained by one of the Romanowsky stains such as Leishman, Giemsa or JSB (Jaswant singh and Bhattacharjee) stain.

Thin smears are used for:

• Detecting parasites, and
• For determining the species of the infecting parasite.

Thick smear

They are prepared usually with 3 drops of blood spread over a small area of about 10mm. The thick film is dried. This smears consist of a thick layer of dehemoglobinized (lysed) red blood cells. It is not fixed in methanol. Thick film is stained similar to thin film. Thick smears have the advantage of concentrating the parasites and therefore increase the sensitivity of diagnosis. Thick smears are used for:

• Defecting parasites,
• Quantitating parasitaemia, and
• Demonstrating malarial pigments.

Fluoroscence microscopy

The method is mainly used for mass screening in field laboratory. Fluorescent dyes like acridine orange is used to stain the blood smears. It stains DNA as fluorescent green and cytoplasmic RNA as red.

QBC (Quantitative Buffy coat smear)

This is a sensitive method for detection of malaria parasites. In this method, blood is collected in a capillary tube coated with fluorescent dye and is subjected to centrifugation. After centrifugation, the Buffy coat in the centrifuged capillary tubes is examined under a fluorescent microscope. Acridine orange – stained
malaria parasites appear brilliant green.

Serodiagnosis

It is not helpful in clinical diagnosis. It is used mainly for epidemiological survey and to identify the infected donors in transfusion malaria. The test used are indirect haemagglutination (IHA), Indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) and Enzyme – linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of serum antibodies.

Rapid Antigen detection tests kits are available commercially like the dipstick, card and cassette bearing monoclonal antibody. These tests are based on the detection of antigens using immune chromatographic methods. These tests can detect plasmodium in 15 minutes.

Molecular diagnosis

DNA probe and PCR are highly sensitive methods for the diagnosis of malaria. It is more sensitive than that of thick blood smear. It is highly species specific. Other tests includes the measurement of hemoglobin, total WBC and platelet count in severe falciparum malaria, urine can be tested for free hemoglobin, if black water fever is suspected. Blood urea and serum creatinine has to be monitored for renal failure.

Treatment

The most commonly used drugs are Chloroquine, Quinine, Pyrimethamine and Doxycycline.

Prevention and Control

The preventive measures to control malaria mainly depend on treatment of infected individuals and reducing the transmission of malaria. The control measures include the use of insecticides such as DDT (Di chlorodiphenyl tri chloromethane) or Malathion for controlling the populations of adult mosquitoes.

Proper use of mosquito nets, wearing protective clothings and use of mosquito repellants can prevent the mosquito bite.

Introduction to Helminths

General characteristics of Helminthic parasite:

1. Helminths are multicellular worms. They are bilaterally symmetrical animals having 3 germ layers and belong to the kingdom Metazoa.
2. They are invertebrates characterised by elongated, flat or round bodies.
3. Helminths develop through egg, larval and adult stages. Flowchart 8.1 describes the classification of helminthes.

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Tissue Flagellates – Leishmania Donovani

The genus is named after the scientist Leishman, who first described the parasite in London in May 1903.

Geographical Distribution:

Leishmania species is found in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa and Asia including India.

Habitat:

Leishmania donovani is an obligate intracellular parasite of human and other mammalian hosts. They are always found as intracellular amastigotes in the reticuloendothelial cells of the spleen, bone marrow, liver, intestinal mucosa and mesenteric lymph nodes of hosts.

Morphology:

The parasite exists in two forms:

Amastigote:

It is the form found in human and other mammalian hosts. They are found inside monocytes, polymorphonuclear leucocytes or endothelial cells. They are small, round to oval bodies measuring 2-3µm in length (Figure 8.8). They are also known as LD (Leishman donovan) bodies.

Promastigote:

These forms are found in the mid-gut of sand fly and in the culture media. The fully developed promastigotes are long, slender and spindle – shaped. They measure 15µm to 25µm in length and 1.5µm to 3.5µm in breadth. A single nucleus is situated at the centre. The kinetoplast lies near the anterior end. The flagellum is single, delicate and measures 15µm-28µm (Figure 8.8).

Life – Cycle of Leishmania donovani

Leishmania donovani completes its life cycle in two different hosts. The complete life cycle is given in Figure 8.9.

Development in Human

The parasite is transmitted to human and other vertebrate hosts by the bite of blood sucking female sandfly. During the blood meal, the sandfly deposists promastigotes on surface of the skin. These promastigotes are immediately phagocytosed by fixed macrophages of the host, in which they are transformed into amastigotes. The amastigotes multiply by binary fission within the macrophages.

As many as 50 to 200 amastigotes may be present inside the enlarged cell. These are called LD bodies. The rupture of cell releases amastigotes in large numbers which inturn are free to infect other cells. Free amastigotes are subsequently carried by circulation. These forms invade monocytes of the blood and macrophages of the spleen, liver, bone marrow, lymph nodes and other tissues of the reticuloendothelial cells.

Development in sandfly

Female sandfly during a blood meal ingest free, as well as intracellular amastigotes in the blood. In the mid gut of the sandfly, the amastigotes are transformed within 72 hours to flagellated promastigotes. These promastigotes multiply by binary fission. After a period of 6 to 9 days, these forms migrate from the midgut to the pharynx and buccal cavity of sandfly. Bite of the infected sandfly transmits infection to susceptible persons and the life – cycle is repeated.

Pathogenesis

Leishmania donovani causes visceral Leishmaniasis. The disease is also known as Dum – Dum fever, Asian fever, Assam fever, or infantile splenomegaly. Leishmaniasis is a disease of the reticuloendothelial system. Proliferation and destruction of reticuloendothelial cells of the internal organs are responsible for the pathological changes in visceral leishmaniasis.

Spleen, liver and lymphnodes are enlarged in this condition. Bone marrow is dark red in colour and shows extensive proliferation of reticuloendothelial cells. Kidney shows cloudy swelling and is invaded by macrophages parasitized by amastigotes.

Clinical Features

Incubation period:
It is usually 3-6 months but can be months or years.

Visceral Leishmaniasis is a serious and fatal systemic disease. In India, the disease is called Kala – azar meaning “black disease”. The disease is characterized by the presence of fever, hepatosplenomegaly (Figure 8.10) (the simultaneous enlargement of both liver and the spleen), hypergammaglobulinemia (a condition in which increased levels of a certain immunoglobulin in blood serum), Leucopenia, Thrombocytopenia (deficiency of platelets in the blood), Cachexia (a condition that causes extreme weight loss) with marked anemia, emaciation and loss of weight.

Epistaxis (bleeding from nose) and bleeding from gums are common. In Indian patients, the skin on the hands, feet, abdomen, around the mouth and fore – head becomes grayish and dark coloured. This hypo – pigmentation of the skin is unique in Indian patients giving the disease name Kala – azar.

Post kala – azar dermal leishmaniasis

(PKDL):
It is a non – ulcerative lesion of the skin, which is seen after completion of treatment of the kala – azar. This condition is characterized by multiple, hypopigmented, erythematous macules involving the face and trunk (Figure 8.11).

In Indian forms, PKDL appears after a latent period of 2 years and may even persist as long as 20years, creating a persistent human reservoir of infection.

Laboratory diagnosis

Specimens:
Aspiration from spleen, bone marrow, lymph node, liver biopsy and peripheral blood.

Methods of examination:
This includes, microscopy and culture

1. Direct microscopy

The amastigotes of Leishmania donovani (known as LD bodies) can be demonstrated in the smears of spleen, bone marrow, liver, lymph node and peripheral blood stained in Leishman, Giemsa or wright stains. Splenic aspiration is the most sensitive method to detect LD bodies. Examination of peripheral blood smear and buffy coat smear is more commonly used to find LD bodies in the circulating monocytes.

2. Culture

Promastigotes are found in the culture media. Tissue samples and aspirates are inoculated in the NNN (Novy-MacNeal-Nicolle) medium for demonstration of promastigotes. Laboratory diagnosis of kala – azar is briefly discussed in Flowchart 8.5.

Treatment:
Pentavalent antimonials are the drugs of choice. Pentamidine, Amphotericin B and Miltefosine (oral drug) are recommended.

Prevention and Control

Integrated insecticidal spraying (DDT and Malathion) to reduce sandfly population. Reduction of reservoir by killing all the infected dogs. Personal prophylaxis by using anti – sandfly measures like using thick clothes, bed nets, window mesh or insect repellants and keeping the environment clean. No vaccine is available against kala – azar.

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Giardia Lamblia of Medical Parasitology

(Also known as Giardia duodenalis, Giardia intestinalis)

Geographical Distribution

It is the most common protozoan pathogen and is worldwide in distribution. The diseaseis very high in areas with low sanitation, especially tropics and subtropics.

Habitat

Giardia lamblia lives in the duodenum and upper jejunum of human. It is the only protozoan parasite found in the lumen of the human small intestine.

Morphology

It exists in two forms

• Trophozoite and
• Cyst

Trophozoite

The trophozoite is in the shape of a tennis or badminton racket. It is rounded anteriorly and pointed posteriorly. The size of the trophozoite is 14 µ long by 7µ broad. Dorsally, it is convex and ventrally, it has a concave sucking disc which helps in its attachment to the intestinal mucosa.

It is bilaterally symmetrical. All the organs of the body are paired. Trophozoite of Giardia possess,

• 1 pair of nuclei
• 4 pairs of flagella
• Parabasal body (Blepharoplast), from which the flagella arise (4 pairs)
• 1 pair of axostyles, running along the midline
• Two sausage – shaped parabasal or median bodies lying transversely posterior to the sucking disc
• The trophozoite is motile, with a slow oscillation about its long axis, often resembling falling leaf (Figure 8.6a).

Cyst

It is the infective form of the parasite. The cyst is small and oval, measuring 12 µm × 8 µm and is surrounded by a hyaline cyst wall.

Its internal structure includes 2 pairs of nuclei grouped at one end. A young cyst contains 1 pair of nuclei. The axostyle lies diagnonally, forming a dividing line within cyst wall (Figure 8.6b).

Life Cycle:
Giardia Life Cycle in Host (Human)

Infective form:
Mature cyst

Mode of transmission:

Human acquires infection by ingestion of cyst in contaminated water and food. Direct person – to person transmission occurs in children. Transmission occurs through oral-anal and oral-genital route in sexually active homosexual males. Within half an hour of ingestion, the cyst hatches out into two trophozoites, which multiply by binary fission and colonize in the duodenum.

The trophozoites live in the duodenum and upper part of jejunum, feeding by pinocytosis. When conditions in duodenum are unfavourable, encystment occurs, usually in large intestine. Cysts are passed in stool and remain viable in soil and water for several weeks (Figure 8.7).

Pathogenicity

Giardia lamblia does not invade the tissue, but remains attached to intestinal epithelium by means of the sucking disc. It causes a disturbance of intestinal function leading to malabsorption of fat.

Clinical Manifestations

Incubation period is variable, but is usually about 2 weeks.

The disease is asymptomatic, but in some cases it may lead to abdominal cramps, flatulence, looseness of bowels, foul smelling stool and mild steatorrhoea (passage of yellowish and greasy stools in which there is excess of fat). The stool contains excess mucus and fat but no blood and pus.

Children may develop chronic diarrhoea, malaise (discomfort), nausea, anorexia (loss of appetite for food), malabsorption of fat, vitamin A and protein. Occasionally, Giardia may colonize the gall bladder causing biliary colic and jaundice.

Laboratory Diagnosis

Specimens:
Stool and blood

Examination of stool sample:
Giardiasis can be diagnosed by identification of cysts of Giardia lamblia in the formed stools and the trophozoites and cyst of the parasite in diarrhoeal stools.

Macroscopic examination of stool:
Fecal specimens containing Giardia lamblia may have an offensive odor. It is pale coloured with fatty substance floating in water.

Microscopic examination of stool:
Cysts and trophozoites can be found in diarrheal stools by saline and iodine wet preparations (Figure 8.8).

Serodiagnosis:
Immuno chromatographic strip tests and indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) tests are readily available. For antigen and antigen detection ELISA, Commercially available ELISA kits detects Giardia – Specific antigen.

Molecular methods:
DNA probes and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been used to demonstrate parasitic genome in the stool specimen.

Treatment

Metronidazole and Tinidazole are the drugs of choice.

Prevention and Control

Giardiasis can be prevented and controlled by,

• Proper disposal of human faeces, maintenance of food and personal hygiene and health education.
• After using the bathroom and before eating, the hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and warm water. Boiling of water is the best and effective method in killing the viable cysts.
• To reduce the risk of venereal transmission, patients should avoid risky sexual behavior.
• No vaccine or effective chemo prophylactic drug is available for prevention of Giardiasis.