Question

PROTOZOAN GENUS NAMES TO MATCH TO THE CASE STUDY:      

Giardia                                                                                           Toxoplasma                                                      Trichomonas

Trypanosoma                                                                         Plasmodium

Case 3:
A 43-year-old female and her husband vacationed in a small village in Costa Rica. They slept on a wooden platform bed that was net-covered to exclude mosquitoes in a one-room cottage.
Two days after their return to the U.S., the female had swelling, fluid and pain around her left eye. Symptoms progressed until the eye was swollen shut two days later. An ophthalmologist diagnosed allergic conjunctivitis, but as a precaution, placed the patient on the antibiotic Levaquin with Tobramycin eyedrops.
A few days later, the woman developed a fever of 103^oF and was sent to the ER to be evaluated for periorbital cellulitis. She complained of left eye pain, headaches, daily fevers, trouble breathing on exertion, decreased energy and appetite, and a blotchy rash noticeable after a shower. There were no indications of chest pains, swelling in the extremities, diarrhea or sore throat.
Laboratory tests showed a normal WBC count, with elevated transaminases. A surface swab of the left eye grew normal skin microbiota when cultured. An EKG revealed a low voltage QRS complex, and a follow-up echocardiogram revealed an elevated left ventricle pressure, a dilated left atrium and a thickened pericardium. A peripheral blood smear revealed a blood parasite 20 micrometers in length, with a centrally-located nucleus, an undulating membrane on one side with a flagellum attached to the undulating membrane. The flagellum tapers off the cell at one end. A follow-up ELISA test was positive for this parasite. The patient was placed on benznidazole, and her symptoms alleviated.

Question 1: what is the characteristics of the parasite that found in the blood of this female?

Question 2: What is the name of this parasite?

Question 3: How she got infected, what is the route of infection?

Answer 1

ANSWER :

1.Characteristics of the parasite:

• This parasite has three morphological forms : Trypomastigote, epimastigote , amastigote.
• Trypanosomes present in circulating blood.

On blood smear :

• It is the motile circulating trypomastigote stage generally seen in the blood sample.
• It measures about 20microns in length and slender.
• Subterminal or terminal kinetoplast is present.
• Centrally located nucleus.
• An undulating membrane with flagellum running along the undulating membrane.

2. The name of the parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi.

3.These parasites are transmitted by contact with faeces , urine of infected blood sucking triatomine bugs.

It can also be transmitted when parasite comes in contact with mucous membranes of eyes , mouth or skin lesions.

These bugs are the vectors that carry the parasites which typically live in wall or wood cracks and crevices.

They hide during day and active at night and generally bites on exposed areas of skin , generally face.

As , she slept on wooden platform bed the triatomine bugs might be present in the bed crevices and lead to the infection by biting or defecating on her face and came in contact with her eye.