Answer to Case 713
Answer to theParasite Case of the Week 713:Trichomonas vaginalistrophozoiteAs noted by Florida Fan, the Giemsa-stained preparation is ideal for highlighting the key morphologic features ofT. vaginalistrophozoites, including the flagella, undulating membrane, and axostyle. In my mind, the Pap stain just doesn ' t highlight the features as well. Here is an annotated image showing some of these features:The trophozoites ofT. vaginalisare 7-30 micrometers long, are tear drop/pear-shaped (i.e., pyriform), and have 5 flagella. Four flagella are anteriorly directed, while the 5th flagellum runs posteriorly along the undulat...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - March 26, 2023 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
Answer to Case 626
Answer to theParasite Case of the Week 626:Trichomonas vaginalis.The images from this case show the classic morphology of this organism. Here are some of these key diagnostic features:AlthoughT. vaginaliscan be seen in vaginal secretions, male urethral secretions, and in urine, the most sensitive detection method is a nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT). This is what we use in my laboratory. Importantly, the NAAT we use does not cross-react with the other trichomonads found in the oral cavity and intestine. As Sam mentioned, " Treatment with metronidazole would be appropriate. This would be of concern if the ...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - February 14, 2021 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
Answer to Case 555 - Parasites and the Number Five
Wow - we received so many excellent comments on how parasites and the number 5 go together! Here are many of them - in no particular order - for your viewing pleasure:Pentatrichomonas hominis is a nonpathogenic intestinal flagellate named for its 5 flagella (penta from the Greek pente, meaning five + trich, pertaining to hair [flagella]). By Neil Anderson and Bernardino Rocha.There are 5 lobes of the lung, and all can be infected by Paragonimusspecies. By Brian Duresko.The are 5Plasmodiumspecies that are responsible for the bulk of malaria in humans:P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae, andP. knowlesi(t...
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - August 1, 2019 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
Let ’s talk about sex — with our patients
I recently read a book by Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz a UCLA cardiologist who also happens to be a consultant for the Los Angeles Zoo. In her book Zoobiquity, Dr. Natterson-Horowitz demystified the story of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) transmission from monkeys in West and Central Africa to humans. Most physicians today, including me, have a limited knowledge of zoonosis (the science surrounding bugs that can be from animals to humans) and can be totally unaware of the extent to which we share pathogens with our animal neighbors.
After reading about rabbit syphilis, Chlamydia in koalas in Australia which almost th...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - February 1, 2017 Category: Journals (General) Authors: < a href="http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/dr-leonard-a-sowah" rel="tag" > Dr. Leonard A. Sowah < /a > Tags: Conditions Infectious disease Source Type: blogs
Sexually transmitted infections on the rise
Recently I saw a young woman in my clinic for her annual exam. As usual, I asked her if she would like to be tested for sexually transmitted infections, and then we reviewed the “menu” of options: we could collect a swab of her cervix for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and trichomonas, and a PAP smear for human papillomavirus. We could collect blood for HIV, hepatitis C, syphilis, and herpes. We discussed the pros and cons and details of testing — not everyone wants every test. But she cheerfully consented to all of it, and when the results came back positive for chlamydia, she was shocked.
“But I had no symptoms!” she ex...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - November 28, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Monique Tello, MD, MPH Tags: Health Infectious diseases Prevention Sex Sexual Conditions Source Type: blogs
Answer to Case 400
Answers:1. Parasite associated with 'coconut rectum' - Trichuris trichiura. This description refers to a prolapsed rectum on which numerous adult worms attached to the rectal mucosa can be seen.(Image courtesy of the CDC Public Health Image Library)2. Parasite associated with 'strawberry cervix' - Trichomonas vaginalis. This description refers to the punctate hemorrhages seen on the infected cervix which purportedly look like a strawberry.(Image courtesy of the CDC Public Health Image Library) (Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites)
Source: Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites - June 12, 2016 Category: Parasitology Source Type: blogs
A virus in a parasite in a human
The protozoan parasite Leishmania, transmitted to humans by the bite of a sandfly, may cause disfiguring skin lesions. A virus within the parasite appears to increase the risk of treatment failure with anti-leishmania drugs.
A double-stranded RNA virus was found over 20 years ago to infect different species of Leishmania, with up to 50% of clinical isolates infected. Leishmaniavirus (LRV) causes a chronic infection with little effect on the parasite. In mouse models, infection of Leishmania with LRV is associated with increased parasite replication and disease severity. The double-stranded RNA genome of LRV appears to be...
Source: virology blog - September 18, 2015 Category: Virology Authors: Vincent Racaniello Tags: Basic virology Information antimonial drug failure dsRNA leishmania Leishmania virus LRV parasite pentamidine protozoa viral Source Type: blogs
Medical Mispronunciations and Misspelled Words: The Definitive List.
Hearing medical mispronunciations and seeing misspelled words are an under appreciated joy of working in healthcare. Physicians often forget just how alien the language of medicine is to people who don't live it everyday. The best part about being a physician is not helping people recover from critical illness. The best part is not about listening and understanding with compassion and empathy. Nope, the best part about being a physician is hearing patients and other healthcare providers butcher the language of medicine and experiencing great entertainment in the process. Doctors c...
Source: The Happy Hospitalist - October 2, 2013 Category: Internists and Doctors of Medicine Authors: Tamer Mahrous Source Type: blogs
