Histomonas meleagridis

Cosmopolitan parasite of Birds in the order Galiformes.

Causes a severe and often fatal disease called histomoniasis, “blackhead” in turkeys.

Only a trophozoite stage present; no cyst:

• trophozoite is irregular in shape

• may appear as an amoeboid form with pseudopodia or a flagellated form with a single flagellum

 

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Histomonas meleagridis Life Cycle

Transmission is within the egg of the cecal nematode of chickens and turkeys (Heterakis gallinarum)

You are not responsible for all 9 topics for this parasite

Histomonas meleagridis Life CycleTransmission is within the egg of the cecal nematode of chickens and turkeys (Heterakis gallinarum)

- trophozoites from the cecum of an infected bird are ingested by the nematode and invade the eggs

You are not responsible for all 9 topics for this parasite

Histomonas meleagridis Life CycleTransmission is within the egg of the cecal nematode of chickens and turkeys (Heterakis gallinarum)

-trophozoites from the cecum of an infected bird are ingested by the nematode and invade the eggs

- infected eggs of the nematode are released onto the soil where they are eaten by young birds during pecking activities

You are not responsible for all 9 topics for this parasite

Histomonas meleagridis Life CycleTransmission is within the egg of the cecal nematode of chickens and turkeys (Heterakis gallinarum)

- trophozoites from the cecum of an infected bird are ingested by the nematode and invade the eggs

- infected eggs of the nematode are released onto the soil where they are eaten by young birds during pecking activities

- as nematode eggs hatch in the small intestine, Histomonas trophozoites are released to invade the cecum.

You are not responsible for all 9 topics for this parasite

Pinpoint ulcersPinpoint ulcers

Habitat of trophozoites: Cecum

Pathology:

Histomonas meleagridis pathology

You are not responsible for all 9 topics for this parasite

Habitat of trophozoites: Cecum

Pathology:

Young turkeys are more susceptible to the infection than are chickens.

Mortality can reach 100% in young turkeys - millions of dollars worth of turkeys are lost to this parasite.

Histomonas meleagridis pathology

Symptoms

• Infected birds develop ruffled feathers, dark skin pigmentation, and hanging wings and tail

Look at Mr. Pro Diver!!!

Hello, The VISIBVILITY IS GREAT!!!!

This is Matt!! Holding a steering wheel of a sunken boat!! Melissa took the picture from too far away. Sorry Matt

Matt’s hose and his bubbles

Steering Wheel

Amoebic Meningitis

Naegleria fowleri

• Free-living in freshwater and soil including thermal pools; are bacteriophagous.

• They have even been isolated from bottled mineral water in Mexico.

Naegleria fowleri Life Cycle

Naegleria fowleri Pathology

• After entering the nose and nasal cavities, the trophozoites migrate along the olfactory nerves, through the cribriform plate, and into the cranium.

Naegleria fowleri Pathology

• After entering the nose and nasal cavities, the trophozoites migrate along the olfactory nerves, through the cribriform plate, and into the cranium.

• Ameboid trophozoites multiply rapidly by binary fission in the brain and cause rapid brain tissue destruction.

Naegleria fowleri Pathology

• After entering the nose and nasal cavities, the trophozoites migrate along the olfactory nerves, through the cribriform plate, and into the cranium.

• Ameboid trophozoites multiply rapidly by binary fission in the brain and cause rapid brain tissue destruction.

• Symptoms include a headache, fever, neck rigidity, and mental confusion followed by coma and death.

Naegleria fowleri Pathology

• After entering the nose and nasal cavities, the trophozoites migrate along the olfactory nerves, through the cribriform plate, and into the cranium.

• Ameboid trophozoites multiply rapidly by binary fission in the brain and cause rapid brain tissue destruction.

• Symptoms include a headache, fever, neck rigidity, and mental confusion followed by coma and death.

• Death usually occurs from brain destruction.

Trophozoites are clustered around small vessels near the brain surface

Primary Amebic Meningoencephalits (PAM)

Figure 1. A) Computed tomographic scan: note the right fronto-basal collection (arrow) with a midline shift right to left. B) Brain histology: three large clusters of amebic vegetative forms are seen (H-E stain, x 250). Inset: Positive indirect immunofluorescent analysis on tissue section with anti– Naegleria fowleri serum.

• Two boys, ages 7 and 9, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, died from rare parasite Saturday August 5, 2005 from infection with Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria in Oklahoma

• Two boys, ages 7 and 9, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, die from rare parasite Saturday August 5, 2005 from infection with Naegleria fowleri.

• The two boys were not related, but both came to their doctors with symptoms of fever, hallucinations, and headaches, and despite medical care neither was able to survive the deadly infection.

Naegleria in Oklahoma

• Two boys, ages 7 and 9, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, die from rare parasite Saturday August 5, 2005 from infection with Naegleria fowleri.

• The two boys were not related, but both came to their doctors with symptoms of fever, hallucinations, and headaches, and despite medical care neither was able to survive the deadly infection.

• Of the 200 known cases of Naegleria infection in the past 40 years, only two people have survived. Only 24 infections were documented in the U.S. between 1989 and 2000.

Naegleria in Oklahoma

Acanthamoeba spp.

At least 5 species of Acanthamoeba have been identified in human tissues, this is one of the most common amebas in soil and freshwater.

Trophozoites occur only as amoeboid forms:

Life Cycle Stages

Free-living trophozoites and cysts occur in both the soil and freshwater.

Acanthamoeba spp.

These species cause 2 pathological effects:

1) Over 100 cases of granulomatous amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Acanthamoeba have been documented.

2) Incriminated in a number of cases of inflammation and opacity of the cornea.

Most of these ocular infections were in contact lens wearers who used home-made saline.

Symptoms

• Foreign body sensation, severe ocular pain, photophobia and blurred vision.

• Often pain is more severe than signs in early

course of the disease.

• Usually unilateral diffuse punctate epitheliopathy, dendritic epithelial lesion which may gradually progress to stromal infection associated with ring infiltrate formation.

Pathology

• Usually unilateral diffuse punctate epitheliopathy, dendritic epithelial lesion which may gradually progress to stromal infection associated with ring infiltrate formation.

• Enlarged corneal nerve (keratoneuritis) is

pathognomonic of the infection.

Pathology

• Usually unilateral diffuse punctate epitheliopathy, dendritic epithelial lesion which may gradually progress to stromal infection associated with ring infiltrate formation.

• Enlarged corneal nerve (keratoneuritis) is pathognomonic of the infection.

• Scleritis may be found in advanced cases.

Pathology

• Management: – Early diagnosis a prognostic factor of a

successful outcome. – Topical anti-amoeba agents. – Penetrating keratoplasty in a severe

progressive keratitis.

Acanthamoeba spp.