PARASITIC

INFECTIONS OF
THE GIT
MRS LUMAMBA
INTRODUCTION

 Parasites include various protozoa and worms which may

infect humans, causing parasitic diseases.
 Many parasites do not cause diseases. Parasitic infection
can affect practically all living organisms, including
plants and animals.
COMMON TYPES OF PARASITES

 Roundworms
 Tapeworms
 Hook worms
 Heart worms
 Amoeba
 Flies, Fleas, Lice,
 Mites and Ticks
 Each causes different symptoms and different infections
GIT PARASITIC INFECTIONS
GIT PARASITIC INFECTIONS

 Enterobius vermicularis, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba

histolytica, Strongyloids stercoralis and Ascaris
lumbricoides,
E. vermicularis

 E. vermicularis, commonly referred to as the pinworm or

seatworm, is a nematode, or roundworm, with the largest
geographic range of any helminth.
E. vermicularis

TREATMENT
 Primary: Mebendazole -  binds to the colchicine-sensitive site of
tubulin, thus inhibiting its polymerization or assembly into
microtubules. The loss of the cytoplasmic microtubules leads to
impaired uptake of glucose by the larval and adult stages of the
susceptible parasites, and depletes their glycogen stores. Due to
diminished energy production, the parasite is immobilized and
eventually dies.
E. vermicularis

 Secondary: Pyrantel pamoate, 11 mg per kg (maximum of

1 g) orally once; or albendazole , 400 mg orally once If
persistent, repeat treatment in two weeks. Do not give to
children younger than two years.
  depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, thereby
causing sudden contraction, followed by paralysis, of the
helminths. results in causing the worm to "lose its grip"
on the intestinal wall and be passed out of the system by
natural process.
ENTAMOEBA HYSTOLYTICA-
PROTOZOAN PARASITE

 Causes amoebic dysentery

 SYMPTOMS: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, fatigue, fever,
vomiting, bloody stool, weightloss
 TREATMENT: Susceptible to Metronidazole, Tinidazone,
Ornidazole, Deloxanide furoate( Destroys trophozoites)
Tetracycline
GIARDIA INTESTINALIS

 Causative agent of giardiasis

 Symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, fever
 Prevention: use of filtered water
TREATMENT
 Metronidazole, tinidazole or (nitazoxanide- Disrupts
energy production in anerobic microbes)
 Metronidazole is the current first-line therapy
STRONGYLOIDS STERCORALIS

Strongyloides stercoralis is a  human pathogenic parasitic

round worm  causing the disease  Strongyloidiasis.
Treatment
 Ivermectin is the drug of first line- Binds to clˉ channels in
muscle and nerve cells causing hyperpolarization leading
to paralysis and death of parasite
 second-line  Albendazole.
CESTODES: TAPEWORMS

 Most common tapeworms in humans are the pork

tapeworm (T. solium), the beef tapeworm (T. saginata), the
fish tapeworm and the dwarf tapeworm
CESTODES: TAPEWORMS

TREATMENT
 Praziquantel-causing severe spasms and paralysis of the
worms' muscles. This paralysis is accompanied - and
probably caused - by a rapid Ca 2+ influx inside the
schistosome
 Niclosamide- uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation
ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES

 Ascariasis
is a disease of humans caused by the parasitic
roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.
 CAUSE : Infection occurs by swallowing food
contaminated with Ascaris eggs from feces.
Treatment:
 Mebendazole/ Albendazole,
 Piperazine-GABA receptor agonist leading to
hyperpolarization of nerve endings and flaccid paralysis
THE END