Major Pathogens

This section will look into major pathogens and disease states in parasitology

Blood and Tissue Protozoa

Key Players
- Plasmodium spp. (Malaria)
- Trypanosoma brucei (African Trypanosomiasis/Sleeping Sickness)
- Trypanosoma cruzi (American Trypanosomiasis/Chagas Disease)
Key Features
- Transmission: Primarily vector-borne (mosquitoes, tsetse flies, triatomine bugs)
- Disease: Can cause severe systemic illness, affecting blood, organs, and the nervous system
- Diagnosis: Blood smears, serology, molecular tests

Key Players
- Cryptosporidium spp
- Entamoeba histolytica
- Giardia lamblia
- Trichomonas vaginalis
Key Features
- Transmission: Primarily fecal-oral route (except Trichomonas, which is sexually transmitted)
- Disease: Causes gastrointestinal illness (diarrhea, abdominal pain) or urogenital infection
- Diagnosis: Stool examination, antigen detection, microscopy, PCR

Key Players
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- Enterobius vermicularis
- Hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus)
- Schistosoma spp
- Strongyloides stercoralis
- Taenia spp
- Diphyllobothrium latum
- Trichinella spiralis
- Trichuris trichiura
Key Features
- Transmission: Varied routes – fecal-oral, skin penetration, ingestion of larvae in meat or fish
- Disease: Can cause a wide range of symptoms depending on the worm and location (intestinal distress, anemia, tissue damage)
- Diagnosis: Stool examination, serology, tissue biopsy

Key Players
- Toxoplasma gondii
- Naegleria fowleri
- Acanthamoeba spp
Key Features
- Transmission: Ingestion of oocysts/cysts (Toxoplasma), nasal exposure to contaminated water (Naegleria), entry through skin/lungs/eyes (Acanthamoeba)
- Disease: Can cause severe neurological damage, encephalitis, and potentially fatal outcomes
- Diagnosis: Imaging, CSF analysis, biopsy, serology

Key Players
- Ticks
- Mites (Scabies mites, Chigger mites, Dust mites)
- Lice (Head lice, Body lice, Pubic lice)
- Bed Bugs
Key Features
- Transmission: Direct contact, bites, or through contaminated environments
- Disease: Can cause skin infestations, allergic reactions, and act as vectors for other diseases
- Diagnosis: Visual examination, skin scrapings

Key Players
- Filariae (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Brugia timori, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa)
- Flukes (Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis, Fasciola, Paragonimus)
Key Features
- Transmission: Vector-borne (mosquitoes, blackflies) or ingestion of contaminated food/water
- Disease: Can cause chronic and debilitating conditions like lymphedema, blindness, and liver damage
- Diagnosis: Blood smears, serology, stool examination, imaging

Global Distribution: Many parasitic diseases are more prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions due to factors like climate, sanitation, and hygiene
Vulnerable Populations: Immunocompromised individuals, children, and those living in poverty are often at higher risk
Complex Life Cycles: Many parasites have complex life cycles involving multiple hosts, which makes control and prevention challenging
Importance of Prevention: Sanitation, hygiene, safe food and water practices, and vector control are critical for preventing parasitic infections