Babesia

Babesia
• Blood parasites
• Cause malaria-like infections
 Babesia
• Babesia microti is the most common in
human infections
• Transmitted via the bite of the black-legged
tick (Ixodes scapularis/dammini)

• No extraerythrocytic cycle
 Babesia
• Lab Diagnosis

- blood film microscopy

- serology
- PCR
COCCIDIANS
 General Characteristics

• Phylum Apicomplexa
• Class Sporozoa
• Subclass Coccidia

• All are parasitic

• Alternating sexual and asexual generations
 Cystoisospora belli
• formerly known as Isospora belli
• Infective stage:
mature oocyst

• Diagnostic stage:
oocyst w/ sporoblast
 Cystoisospora belli
• Pathology:

- often asymptomatic
- chronic intermittent diarrhea
- malabsorption and weight loss

- shortening of the intestinal villi

- hypertrophy of crypts
- lamina propria are infiltrated w/ wbcs

- dissemination in AIDS patients

 Cystoisospora belli
• Lab Diagnosis:

- demonstration of oocysts in stool

(DFS and concentration techniques)
- oocysts are visible in modified acid-fast
staining
- cysts are autofluorescent

- duodenal sampling is also useful

Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum
• C.hominis – found in mainly in humans
• C. parvum – bovine parasite but can infect
man
Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum
• Pathology:

- self-limiting diarrhea in
immunocompetent hosts

- severe chronic diarrhea in the

immunocompromised (e.g. AIDS patients)
- gangrenous cholecystitis
- respiratory infections
Cryptosporidium hominis and C. parvum
• Lab Diagnosis:

- detection of oocysts in stool

- acid-fast
- cysts are autofluorescent
 Cyclospora cayetanensis
• Previously called cyanobacterium-like body
(CBL)

• The complete life cycle has not been clearly

elucidated but is presumed to be similar to
other intestinal coccidia
Cyclospora cayetanensis
 Cyclospora cayetanensis
• Pathology

- watery diarrhea (chronic)

- alternating constipation
- D-xylose malabsorption
 Cyclospora cayetanensis
• Lab Diagnosis

- detection of oocysts in stool

- concentration techniques
- modified acid-fast staining

- oocysts are autofluorescent

 Toxoplasma gondii
• Infects humans and animals
• The complete life cycle only occurs in
members of family Felidae
(cats)

• Humans serve as dead end intermediate hosts

Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma gondii
Toxoplasma gondii
 Toxoplasma gondii
• Pathology

- usually asymptomatic

- symptomatic disease is triggered by

immunosuppression
- encephalitis, myocarditis, pneumonia,
hepatitis, splenomegaly, lymphoreticular
hyperplasia, retinochoroiditis, etc.

- stillbirth and abortion

 Toxoplasma gondii
• Lab Diagnosis

- detection of parasites through biopsies

 Toxoplasma gondii
• Lab Diagnosis

- detection of parasites through biopsies

- Serology
Sabin-Feldman methylene blue dye test
ToRCH
- PCR
 Sarcocystis spp.
• Sarcocystis hominis
• Sarcocystis suihominis

• Humans and other carnivores serve as

definitive hosts

• Herbivorous and omnivorous animals serve as

intermediate hosts
Sarcocystis spp.
 Sarcocystis spp.
• Pathology

- gastroenteritis
- myalgia
- weakness
- more severe in immunocompromized
hosts

- human intramuscular sarcocystosis

(Sarcocystis nesbitti)
 Sarcocystis spp.
• Lab Diagnosis

- detection of sporocysts in stool

- detection of sarcocysts/schizonts in
muscle or brain

- serology
Blood & Tissue Flagellates