Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology

Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

BIO1227: MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

INSTITUTE OF NURSING AND IAS, BIOLOGY DEPARTMENT

WEEK 5: MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROTOZOANS

ITEM MSM PROFILE

MICROBIAL PROFILE
I MICROORGANISM/CAUSATIV Trichomonas vaginalis
E AGENT
A GRAM REACTION (+)
B OXYGEN REQUIREMENT Anaerobic
C SIZE 10-20 μm long and 2-14 μm wide
D SHAPE oval or pear-like shape
E HABITAT In men, the organism is found in the anterior urethra,
external genitalia, prostate, epididymis, and semen
(see the image below). It resides both in the lumen
and on the mucosal surfaces of the urogenital tract
and uses flagella to move around vaginal and urethral
tissues.
F DISCOVERY Trichomoniasis was first described by scientist Donne
in 1836 . Donne identified the protozoan in an
unstained “wet mount” preparation of vaginal
discharge mixed with saline. In 1883, another
researcher named Kunstle described the behavior of
the parasite within the female urinary tract.
G MICROSCOPIC IMAGE

II DISEASE PROFILE
A DISEASE/S STD
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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE  Sores or bumps on the genitals or in the oral

or rectal area.
 Painful or burning urination.
 Discharge from the penis.
 Unusual or odd-smelling vaginal discharge.
 Unusual vaginal bleeding.
 Pain during sex.
 Sore, swollen lymph nodes, particularly in the
groin but sometimes more widespread.
 Lower abdominal pain.
C INCUBATION PERIOD 5-28 days
D MODE OF TRANSMISSION The parasite passes from an infected person to an
uninfected person during sex. In women, the most
commonly infected part of the body is the lower
genital tract (vulva, vagina, cervix, or urethra).
E DIAGNOSIS  Blood tests. Blood tests can confirm the
diagnosis of HIV or later stages of syphilis.
 Urine samples. Some STIs can be confirmed
with a urine sample.
 Fluid samples. If you have open genital sores,
your doctor may test fluid and samples from
the sores to diagnose the type of infection.
F TREATMENT Can be cured with a single dose of prescription
antibiotic medication (either metronidazole or
tinidazole), pills which can be taken by mouth. It is
okay for pregnant women to take this medication.
G PREVENTION  Use condoms. Condoms are the best way to
prevent STIs when you have sex.
 Get tested. Be sure you and your partner are
tested for STIs.
 Be monogamous.
 Limit your number of sex partners.
H NO OF DAYS BEING Fewer than 10 days
SYMPTOMATIC

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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT

https://www.medscape.com/answers/230617-41095/what-is-the-morphology-of-t-vaginalis#:~:text=T
%20vaginalis%20trichomonads%20are%20approximately,organism%2C%20forming%20an
%20undulating%20membrane.

https://web.stanford.edu/group/parasites/ParaSites2002/trichomoniasis/History.html#:~:text=Trichom
oniasis%20was%20first%20described%20by,within%20the%20female%20urinary%20tract.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Light-microscopic-picture-of-Trichomonas-vaginalis-in-
smear_fig2_259168714

https://www.cdc.gov/std/trichomonas/stdfact-trichomoniasis.htm#:~:text=Trichomoniasis%20(or
%20%E2%80%9Ctrich%E2%80%9D),cannot%20tell%20they%20are%20infected.

ITEM MSM PROFILE

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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University
MICROBIAL PROFILE
I MICROORGANISM/CAUSATIVE
AGENT
A GRAM REACTION
B OXYGEN REQUIREMENT
C SIZE
D SHAPE
E HABITAT
F DISCOVERY
G MICROSCOPIC IMAGE
II DISEASE PROFILE
A DISEASE/S
B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE
C INCUBATION PERIOD
D MODE OF TRANSMISSION
toxoplasma gondii
(-)
obligate intracellular
5-50 µm in diameter
spherical
warm blooded animal
This protozoan parasite was first discovered in 1908
and named a year later. Its medical importance
remained unknown until 1939 when T. gondii was
identified in tissues of a congenitally infected infant,
and veterinary importance became known when it
was found to cause abortion storms in sheep in 1957.
Toxoplasmosis
 Swollen lymph glands, especially around the
neck.
 Muscle aches and pains.
 Headache.
 Fever.
 Generally feeling unwell.
 Inflammation of the lungs.
 Inflammation of the heart muscle.
 Inflammation of the eye, for example, the
retina (at the back of the eye).
5-23 days
Toxoplasma can be transmitted to humans by three
principal routes: a) ingestion of raw or inadequately
cooked infected meat; b) ingestion of oocysts, an
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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

environmentally resistant form of the organism that

cats pass in their feces, with exposure of humans
occurring through exposure to cat litter or soil (e.g.,
from gardening or unwashed fruits or vegetables); and
c) a newly infected pregnant woman passing the
infection to her unborn fetus.
E DIAGNOSIS The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is typically made by
serologic testing. A test that measures
immunoglobulin G (IgG) is used to determine if a
person has been infected.
F TREATMENT Most healthy people recover from toxoplasmosis
without treatment. Persons who are ill can be treated
with a combination of drugs such as pyrimethamine
and sulfadiazine, plus folinic acid.
G PREVENTION  Wear gloves when you garden or handle soil.
 Don't eat raw or undercooked meat.
H NO OF DAYS BEING 2-4 days
SYMPTOMATIC

I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT

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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

https://www.cdc.gov/dpdx/toxoplasmosis/index.html#:~:text=gondii%20cyst%2C%20unstained.-,Cysts
%20of%20Toxoplasma%20gondii%20usually%20range%20in%20size%20from%205,and%20skeletal
%20and%20cardiac%20muscles.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19120791/#:~:text=This%20protozoan%20parasite%20was
%20first,storms%20in%20sheep%20in%201957.

https://mykindofscience.com/2017/01/14/life-under-the-microscope-toxoplasma-gondii/

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4902a5.htm#:~:text=Etiologic%20Factors%3A
%20Toxoplasma%20can%20be,exposure%20to%20cat%20litter%20or

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Manifestations-of-congenital-toxoplasmosis-in-infancy-a-
A1Percentage-of-patients-with_fig2_271911710

ITEM MSM PROFILE

MICROBIAL PROFILE
I MICROORGANISM/CAUSATIV Trypanosoma brucei
E AGENT
A GRAM REACTION (-)
B OXYGEN REQUIREMENT Aerobic/anaerobic
C SIZE 8 to 50 μm in length
D SHAPE Elongated body having a streamlined and tapered
shape.
E HABITAT Host range: Salivarian trypanosomes are confined to
tropical Africa, corresponding in distribution with their
tsetse fly vectors.
F DISCOVERY In 1895, the Scottish pathologist and microbiologist
David Bruce (1855–1931) (Fig. 2) discovered T. brucei
as the cause of cattle trypanosomiasis (cattle nagana).

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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

G MICROSCOPIC IMAGE

II DISEASE PROFILE
A DISEASE/S Sleeping sickness
B SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue,
swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints.
C INCUBATION PERIOD At least 7 years
D MODE OF TRANSMISSION Transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly (Glossina
species).
E DIAGNOSIS Microscopic examination of blood, lymph node
aspirates, chancre fluid, or bone marrow or when
indications of infection are present that justify a
lumbar puncture (e.g., clinical signs and symptoms of
sleeping sickness or strong serologic suspicion).
F TREATMENT The other drugs (suramin, melarsoprol, eflornithine,
and nifurtimox when used in combination with
eflornithine)
G PREVENTION  Wear protective clothing, including long-
sleeved shirts and pants.
 Wear neutral-colored clothing.
 Inspect vehicles for tsetse flies before entering.
 Avoid bushes.
 Use insect repellant.
H NO OF DAYS BEING 2-4 days
SYMPTOMATIC

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©Biofacultymember2021
Bio1227 Microbiology and Parasitology
Department of Biology
Institute of Arts and Sciences
Far Eastern University

I IMAGE OF INFECTED PATIENT

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanosoma_brucei#:~:text=human%2Dinfective
%20subspecies.-,Structure,a%20streamlined%20and%20tapered%20shape.

http://parasite.org.au/para-site/text/brucei-text.html#:~:text=Host%20range%3A%20Salivarian
%20trypanosomes%20are,with%20their%20tsetse%20fly%20vectors.

https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/sleepingsickness/diagnosis.html

https://www.who.int/health-topics/human-african-trypanosomiasis

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