PARASITOLOGY EXAM EVALUATION QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔How is Giardiasis spread? - ✔✔Fecally contaminated food or water. Anal sex.
Seasonal in the US (Summer-Fall). More common in children and associated with lower
SES.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Giardiasis? - ✔✔7-10 days.
✔✔Giardiasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Flagellate.
✔✔Symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis: - ✔✔Diarrhea. May be severe in
immunocompromised individuals (HIV, etc.) Anorexia. Vomiting. Malaise. Fever.
Nausea.
✔✔What intestinal protozoan causes Cryptosporidiosis? - ✔✔Cryptosporidium parvum.
✔✔How is Cryptosporidiosis diagnosed? - ✔✔Identification of C. parvum. Identification
of oocysts in smears. Modified acid fast stain.
✔✔How is Cryptosporidiosis spread? - ✔✔Fecally contaminated food or water. Daycare
settings. Prevalence varies by SES. Waterborne outbreak in Milwaukee 1993. Carried in
the intestines of many animals. Worldwide.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Cryptosporidiosis? - ✔✔About one week.
✔✔Cryptosporidiosis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Coccidia.
✔✔Suppurative - ✔✔Producing or associated with generation of pus.
✔✔Keratitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the cornea causing watery, painful eyes and blurred
vision.
✔✔Karyosome - ✔✔A mass of chromatin; position and morphology used to differentiate
intestinal protozoa.
✔✔Meningoencephalitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and their meninges,
that can be caused by free-living amoebas of Naegleria fowleri.
✔✔Granulomatous - ✔✔Relating to or characterized by granulomas.
✔✔TORCH test - ✔✔Toxoplasmosis-Other infections-Rubella-Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-
Herpes Simplex virus (HSV).
,Serological blood test, used during pregnancy to test for harmful viruses to the baby.
"Other infections" usually include: Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie
virus, Varicella-Zoster virus, Human Parvovirus.
✔✔Thrombus - ✔✔A stationary blood clot formed within a blood vessel. Remains
attached to its place of origin.
✔✔Leukocytosis - ✔✔An abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the
blood as a result of infection (as in leukemia).
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Naegleriasis? - ✔✔Naegleria fowleri.
✔✔How is Naegleriasis spread? - ✔✔Exposure to contaminated water (hot springs);
specifically, diving in hot springs which forces amoebae into the nose where they
migrate directly from the nasal passages to the brain.
✔✔Symptoms of Naegleriasis? - ✔✔Sore throat. Frontal headache. Nausea. Vomiting.
Fever. Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Organism ingests brain tissue.
Hemorrhagic necrosis of the brain occurs.
✔✔How is Naegleriasis diagnosed? - ✔✔CSF is examined; centrifuged at low speed.
Refrigeration of CFS may cause false negatives. Evident leukocytosis. Giemsa or
Wrights stain. Negative for bacteria. Trophs may be confused with WBC's.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Naegleriasis? - ✔✔3 days - 2 weeks.
✔✔Morphology of Naegleriasis: - ✔✔Large central karyosome. Trophs: 10-30
micrometers. Cysts: about half the size of trophs. Trophs occur in both amoeboid and
flagellated forms.
✔✔Naegleriasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Amoebae, but some
trophs occur in a flagellated form.
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Trichomoniasis? - ✔✔Trichomonas vaginalis -
fairly common (STD)
✔✔Symptoms of Trichomoniasis: - ✔✔Infection of the GU tract. Vaginitis with profuse,
foul discharge. Urethritis with thin discharge, infrequently. Low grade inflammatory
response. May be asymptomatic.
May coexist with Gonorrhea (1/3 or more) In women, restricted to vagina and cervix. In
men, may cause prostatitis.
, ✔✔How is Trichomoniasis diagnosed? - ✔✔Examination vaginal and urethral secretions
for motile organisms. Occasionally seen on Pap Smear. Culture has been used of Sx
are present and smear is negative.
✔✔Morphology of Trichomoniasis: - ✔✔Pear shaped with undulating membrane and
four flagella. About 10x8 micrometers. Moves with a characteristic rotating motion. No
cyst form scene.
✔✔How is Trichomoniasis spread? - ✔✔Sexual intercourse. Common between sexually
active young men and women.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Trichomoniasis? - ✔✔About one week.
✔✔Trichomoniasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Flagellate.
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔Toxoplasma gondii.
✔✔What are the symptoms of Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔Can be asymptomatic, chronic or
acute. Lymphadenopathy. Lymphocytosis. Fever. Primary infection during pregnancy
can lead to fetal retinitis, brain damage and liver disease.
✔✔Pathogenesis of Toxoplasmosis: - ✔✔Oocysts are ingested. Attacks cells of RES.
Mimics Infectious Mononucleosis. May cause fulminating fatal disease in AIDS patients.
✔✔How is Toxoplasmosis diagnosed? - ✔✔Smears of blood, bone marrow, sputum,
CSF or lymph node aspirates which may yield the organism. Animal isolation (in mice)
and tissue culture have been used.
TORCH testing should be used for women, prior to pregnancy.
✔✔Morphology of Toxoplasmosis: - ✔✔Fixed trophs may appear crescent shaped. May
be found in densely packed masses. Trophs are 3x5 micrometers. Stains with Giemsa
stain.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔1-3 weeks.
✔✔How is Toxoplasmosis spread? - ✔✔Can be transmitted through raw or
undercooked meat. Association with domestic cats. Ingestion of the organism.
✔✔Toxoplasmosis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Coccidia.
✔✔Amastigote - ✔✔Having no flagella. (Mastigote: having flagella)
ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔How is Giardiasis spread? - ✔✔Fecally contaminated food or water. Anal sex.
Seasonal in the US (Summer-Fall). More common in children and associated with lower
SES.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Giardiasis? - ✔✔7-10 days.
✔✔Giardiasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Flagellate.
✔✔Symptoms of Cryptosporidiosis: - ✔✔Diarrhea. May be severe in
immunocompromised individuals (HIV, etc.) Anorexia. Vomiting. Malaise. Fever.
Nausea.
✔✔What intestinal protozoan causes Cryptosporidiosis? - ✔✔Cryptosporidium parvum.
✔✔How is Cryptosporidiosis diagnosed? - ✔✔Identification of C. parvum. Identification
of oocysts in smears. Modified acid fast stain.
✔✔How is Cryptosporidiosis spread? - ✔✔Fecally contaminated food or water. Daycare
settings. Prevalence varies by SES. Waterborne outbreak in Milwaukee 1993. Carried in
the intestines of many animals. Worldwide.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Cryptosporidiosis? - ✔✔About one week.
✔✔Cryptosporidiosis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Coccidia.
✔✔Suppurative - ✔✔Producing or associated with generation of pus.
✔✔Keratitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the cornea causing watery, painful eyes and blurred
vision.
✔✔Karyosome - ✔✔A mass of chromatin; position and morphology used to differentiate
intestinal protozoa.
✔✔Meningoencephalitis - ✔✔Inflammation of the brain, spinal cord and their meninges,
that can be caused by free-living amoebas of Naegleria fowleri.
✔✔Granulomatous - ✔✔Relating to or characterized by granulomas.
✔✔TORCH test - ✔✔Toxoplasmosis-Other infections-Rubella-Cytomegalovirus (CMV)-
Herpes Simplex virus (HSV).
,Serological blood test, used during pregnancy to test for harmful viruses to the baby.
"Other infections" usually include: Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Epstein-Barr virus, Coxsackie
virus, Varicella-Zoster virus, Human Parvovirus.
✔✔Thrombus - ✔✔A stationary blood clot formed within a blood vessel. Remains
attached to its place of origin.
✔✔Leukocytosis - ✔✔An abnormal increase in the number of white blood cells in the
blood as a result of infection (as in leukemia).
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Naegleriasis? - ✔✔Naegleria fowleri.
✔✔How is Naegleriasis spread? - ✔✔Exposure to contaminated water (hot springs);
specifically, diving in hot springs which forces amoebae into the nose where they
migrate directly from the nasal passages to the brain.
✔✔Symptoms of Naegleriasis? - ✔✔Sore throat. Frontal headache. Nausea. Vomiting.
Fever. Primary Amebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM). Organism ingests brain tissue.
Hemorrhagic necrosis of the brain occurs.
✔✔How is Naegleriasis diagnosed? - ✔✔CSF is examined; centrifuged at low speed.
Refrigeration of CFS may cause false negatives. Evident leukocytosis. Giemsa or
Wrights stain. Negative for bacteria. Trophs may be confused with WBC's.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Naegleriasis? - ✔✔3 days - 2 weeks.
✔✔Morphology of Naegleriasis: - ✔✔Large central karyosome. Trophs: 10-30
micrometers. Cysts: about half the size of trophs. Trophs occur in both amoeboid and
flagellated forms.
✔✔Naegleriasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Amoebae, but some
trophs occur in a flagellated form.
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Trichomoniasis? - ✔✔Trichomonas vaginalis -
fairly common (STD)
✔✔Symptoms of Trichomoniasis: - ✔✔Infection of the GU tract. Vaginitis with profuse,
foul discharge. Urethritis with thin discharge, infrequently. Low grade inflammatory
response. May be asymptomatic.
May coexist with Gonorrhea (1/3 or more) In women, restricted to vagina and cervix. In
men, may cause prostatitis.
, ✔✔How is Trichomoniasis diagnosed? - ✔✔Examination vaginal and urethral secretions
for motile organisms. Occasionally seen on Pap Smear. Culture has been used of Sx
are present and smear is negative.
✔✔Morphology of Trichomoniasis: - ✔✔Pear shaped with undulating membrane and
four flagella. About 10x8 micrometers. Moves with a characteristic rotating motion. No
cyst form scene.
✔✔How is Trichomoniasis spread? - ✔✔Sexual intercourse. Common between sexually
active young men and women.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Trichomoniasis? - ✔✔About one week.
✔✔Trichomoniasis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Flagellate.
✔✔What non-intestinal protozoan causes Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔Toxoplasma gondii.
✔✔What are the symptoms of Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔Can be asymptomatic, chronic or
acute. Lymphadenopathy. Lymphocytosis. Fever. Primary infection during pregnancy
can lead to fetal retinitis, brain damage and liver disease.
✔✔Pathogenesis of Toxoplasmosis: - ✔✔Oocysts are ingested. Attacks cells of RES.
Mimics Infectious Mononucleosis. May cause fulminating fatal disease in AIDS patients.
✔✔How is Toxoplasmosis diagnosed? - ✔✔Smears of blood, bone marrow, sputum,
CSF or lymph node aspirates which may yield the organism. Animal isolation (in mice)
and tissue culture have been used.
TORCH testing should be used for women, prior to pregnancy.
✔✔Morphology of Toxoplasmosis: - ✔✔Fixed trophs may appear crescent shaped. May
be found in densely packed masses. Trophs are 3x5 micrometers. Stains with Giemsa
stain.
✔✔What is the incubation period of Toxoplasmosis? - ✔✔1-3 weeks.
✔✔How is Toxoplasmosis spread? - ✔✔Can be transmitted through raw or
undercooked meat. Association with domestic cats. Ingestion of the organism.
✔✔Toxoplasmosis is: an amoebae, a flagellate or coccidia? - ✔✔Coccidia.
✔✔Amastigote - ✔✔Having no flagella. (Mastigote: having flagella)
