Microsporidiosis
Darius is sick, which is not surprising for an HIV-infected man. But he is sick in several new ways. Sick of having to stay within 20 feet of a toilet. Sick of the cramping, the gas, the pain, and the nausea. Sick with irregular but persistent, watery diarrhea. He is losing weight because food is passing through him undigested. Most days over the past seven months have been disgusting despite his use of over-the-counter remedies, which provide a few days of intermittent relief. His belief that these normal days signaled the end of the ordeal have kept him from the doctor. But now his eyes have begun to hurt, and his vision is blurry. Whatever it is, it’s attacking him at both ends. Time to get stronger drugs from his physician.
Microscopic examination of Darius’s stool sample reveals that he is being assaulted by Encephalitozoon intestinalis, a member of a group of opportunistic emerging pathogens called microsporidia. The single-celled pathogens are also seen on smears from Darius’s nose and eyes. Microsporidia were long thought to be simple single-celled animals, but genetic analysis and comparison with other organisms reveal that they are closer to zygomycete yeasts.
Microsporidia appear to infect humans who engage in unprotected sexual activity, consume contaminated food or drink, or swim in contaminated water. People with active T cells rarely have symptoms, but people with suppressed immunity become easy targets for the
Microsporidia attack by uncoiling a flexible, hollow filament that stabs a host cell and serves as a conduit for the microsporidium’s cytoplasm to invade. In this way, the pathogens become intracellular
Fortunately for Darius, an antimicrobial drug, albendazole, kills the parasite, and the effects of the infection are reversed. Unfortunately for Darius, the loss of helper T cells in AIDS means that another emerging, reemerging, or opportunistic infection is likely to follow.
- 1. Why are microsporidia considered to be opportunistic pathogens?
- 2. How could the discovery that microsporidia are fungi rather than animals improve treatment of microsporidiosis?
- 3. Microsporidia are intracellular pathogens. Which immune cells likely fight off the infection in people with a normal immune system?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 16 Solutions
EBK MICROBIOLOGY:W/DISEASES BY BODY...-
- A 42 year old man comes to the physician because of a discoloration on his right leg for six months. It first look like a bruise, but they didn’t gradually increase in size and did not change color. He works as an adventure tourism guide and has led numerous trips to central Africa, south east, Asia, and South America. Physical examination shows 4.2 cm purple macule with irregular borders on the right calf. Which of the following is the most likely causal virus? M A) cytomegalovirus B) Epstein bar virus C) herpes simplex virus one D) human herpes virus eight E) human papilloma virus type 16 F) parvovirus B19 G) varicella zoster virusarrow_forwardlook at the infographics uploaded are they appealing infographics, do the sources lay out the key facts well, or are they poorly written or a bunch of jargon? Is the information meaningful to the general public or how will it be useful to a public health practitioner who is considered to be a gatekeeper of information?arrow_forwardA 12-year-old girl is taken to a walk-in clinic in her neighborhood drug store for a sore throat and fever. The mother states that the child has been just lying around and is having her period. The girl reports that she has had two periods in the past month and has to change her sanitary pad every couple of hours. The clinician notes several bruises, and the girl does not remember how she got them. After speaking with a colleague, the clinician advises the mother to take the girl to a local children's hospita to be evaluated. Later that day, the girl is diagnosed with ALL and begins chemotherapy. All leukemias have certain pathophysiologic features in common. These include: 1. Increased function of granulocytic-monocytic cells 2. Increased function of bone marrow to fight the leukemic cells 3. Overcrowding of the bone marrow 4. Decreased response to biologic response modifiersarrow_forward
- Backpacker-1 returns from 2 week hiking trip in Sierra Mountains. Reports sleeping on ground near openings to rodent/ground squirrel tunnels. Swollen lymph nodes and dark, discoration on fingers, fever. Stained blood smear shows Gram-negative bacteria, randomly arranged bacilli What is the name of the pathogen and what is the arthropod vector?arrow_forwardTrue or False1. Cholera is an example of a vector borne disease2. Tourniquet is an example of a fomite3. Transmission of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to the baby is considered prenatal transmission4. HIV can be transmitted via prenatal5. Infectious agent is also the pathogenic organismarrow_forwardHow do the signs and symptoms of recurrent herpes simplex differ from those of the primary infection?arrow_forward
- Which clinical manifestation is associated with cellulitis? Lymphadenopathy Occasional papules. Vesicles that evolve into pustules Isolated erythematous pustulesarrow_forwardA 20-year old woman was admitted to the emergency room with sudden onset of fever, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle aches and a rash. Her blood pressure is low. She reported during the history/physical that she had just finished her period and admitted that she had left a highly absorbent tampon in her vagina four days before remembering it was there. The doctor suspects this disease: Ebola Toxic shock syndrome Measles appendicitis < Previous MacBook Pro Next ▸ *arrow_forwardplease give me an answer that's not been posted yet. think about one of these organ system: cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatics, integumentary. Within one of those systems, talk about the most troubling symptom a patient might have that would signal to you an infectious disease. So just one system and one symptom per person, I'm sure you will all come up with many different ones. For that symptom discuss why it is most troubling to you and how it might signify an infectious disease. You can also include examples of diseases that might fit with that symptom.arrow_forward
- Haemophilus influenzae is currently recognized as an important cause of Multiple Choice meningitis. scarlet fever. Flu. boils and pimples.arrow_forwardPlease place in order. Option 3 is correct so fararrow_forwardIs coronavirus Still There's a problem when I meet people who are still coughing and how is the corona population, is the graph decreasing. Thank you brotherarrow_forward
- Lifetime Physical Fitness & WellnessHealth & NutritionISBN:9781337677509Author:HOEGERPublisher:Cengage
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions, Spira...Health & NutritionISBN:9781305634350Author:Ann Ehrlich, Carol L. Schroeder, Laura Ehrlich, Katrina A. SchroederPublisher:Cengage Learning