Microbiology and Immunology 2500A/B Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Balamuthia Mandrillaris, Dientamoeba Fragilis, Giardia Lamblia
23 Dec 2016
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Document Summary
From a symbiotic point of view, they can be mutualistic, commensalistic or a parasite. Bite and can be vectors or other diseases: enteric protozoa. Protozoa infection (even nonpathogenic ones) indicate exposure to contaminated food or water. Infective form: cysts: cysts are smaller, more environmentally stable. Infectious form is robust enough to be transferred from person to person. Active form: trophozoites: what are doing the mayhem inside the gut, metabolically active make you sick. Diagnosis: stool tests for over and parasites; need 3-5 specimens to rule out. Often associated with foreign travel or domestic camping and it has longer incubation periods than bacteria and viruses. Symptoms may not develop until late in a trip or following return. 5-15% of traveler"s diarrhea is caused by protozoal or helminthic parasites. Most common travel associated: giardia intestinalis (most common) Resistant to chlorination; iodination is more effective but boiling is the best. Cysts are very small and need 5 negative stools to rule out.
