Parasitic Nematodes and Their Impact on Global Health

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| Attempts: 11 | Questions: 12 | Updated: Aug 4, 2025
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1. Working in tropical Vietnam a 10 year old girl comes in with rectal prolapse. She has been having dysentery for weeks. You run blood tests and she has no eosinophilia. He mom says the little often eats dirt. What is the parasite causing these symptoms?

Explanation

Rectal prolapse is caused by Trichuris trichiura due to its presence in the colon. Eosinophilia is absent as the parasite does not migrate out of the colon. Trichuriasis is the second most common parasite globally behind Ascariasis.

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About This Quiz
Parasitic Nematodes and Their Impact On Global Health - Quiz

Explore the world of nematodes and their role in neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). This educational content delves into the biology and impact of nematodes, enhancing understanding of parasitic infections and their global health implications.

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2. You're Zanzibar. A pregnant woman comes in iron deficiency anemia and protein malnutrition. She eats a balanced diet. She has also brought along her cousin who has now grown in the past year and is showing memory and cognition deficits. You perform a fecal smear to ID the parasite.

Explanation

The correct answer is Hookworm (Nacator sp.) because the larvae live in the soil, penetrate the skin, migrate through the lung, and live in the small intestine where they suck blood and cause iron deficiency. The pregnant woman and her cousin are showing deficits due to low iron stores from blood loss caused by the hookworms.

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3. A patient in the Appalachians presents with gram-negative bacterial meningitis, severe diarrhea, a rash on the buttocks, and a history of abdominal pain and coughing up blood a few months ago. What parasite is responsible for this infection?

Explanation

Strongyloides stercoralis can cause hyperinfection in immunocompromised patients, leading to the symptoms described. ID can be performed through agar plate migration and serology.

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4. You’re a US pediatrician. 5 yr old comes in who can’t sleep at night and says her bottom is itchy. She is irritable and had a stomach ache a week ago. She is of average intelligence and above the average height for her age. Her mother’s only complaint is that she still sucks her thumb.

Explanation

The correct answer is Enterobius Vermicularis which matches the symptoms and presentation described in the question. Giardia Lamblia, Ascaris Lumbricoides, and Taenia Solium do not typically cause the specific symptoms mentioned or match the presentation described.

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5. Pt comes in after a hunting trip in Alaska where he ate bear and walrus. He said he has a 'stomach flu a week ago' and now has a fever with diffuse myalgia. What does he have? How can you confirm the diagnosis (3 tests)?

Explanation

Trichinella spiralis is commonly acquired by consuming undercooked meat, particularly pork. It presents with symptoms like fever and muscle pain. To diagnose it, very high eosinophilia, muscle biopsy, and serology tests can be conducted. Giardia lamblia, Toxoplasma gondii, and Taenia solium are pathogens that present with different symptoms and require different diagnostic tests, which are not applicable to the presented case.

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6. You’re running a clinic in West Africa. Pt comes in with nodules in skin, dermatitis and some depigmentation. He is also experiencing lymphadenopathy. Many other people in his village have these symptoms and then go blind. What is the parasite? What is the vector? How do you diagnose?

Explanation

Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is caused by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus transmitted through the bite of black flies. The disease presents with skin nodules, dermatitis, depigmentation, and lymphadenopathy. Diagnosis is based on skin snips, as microfilariae are not found in the blood but in the lymphatics.

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7. In Africa. Pt comes with angioedema and a complaint that yesterday she saw a full sized worm wiggle across her eye. She has NO eye problems. What is the parasite? Vector? How and what time of day do you test?

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8. You are in South Sudan. Pt comes in with an ulcer on her foot. She says that she often drinks water form a local river and goes swimming with friends in the same place. She now has a secondary infection in her ulcer. What is the parasite? Vector and transmission? Treatment?

Explanation

The correct parasite in this scenario is Dracunculus (Guinea worm) due to the patient's exposure to contaminated water sources. The other incorrect options are different parasites transmitted through various vectors and have distinct treatments.

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9. What is the parasite responsible for causing lymphadenopathy, hydrocele (lymphedema of scrotum), tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, and fever with adenolymphangitis?

Explanation

Wuchereria bancrofti is the parasite responsible for lymphadenopathy, hydrocele (lymphedema of scrotum), tropical pulmonary eosinophilia, and fever with adenolymphangitis. It is transmitted by mosquitoes and can be diagnosed by identifying microfilaria in a night blood sample and observing 'filarial dancing' on ultrasound of the lymphatics.

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10. A homeless man sleeps with his dog at night. Five years later he develops unilateral vision disturbances, seizures and hepatitis. What type of infection does he have?

Explanation

Toxocara infection is caused by dog or cat roundworm and can lead to various symptoms including vision disturbances, seizures, and hepatitis. It is important to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

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11. You go to Something's Fishy for dinner and order lots of sushi. That night you go home and have terrible stomach pain. What parasite did you have? Where is it now? What is the best way to remove it?

Explanation

Anisakiasis is a parasitic infection caused by Anisakis larvae, often found in raw or undercooked fish. The larvae die in the stomach of the human host. Gastroscopy removal is the recommended method to remove the parasite.

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12. What is the most likely worm infection in the 7-yr old boy in Brasil?

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Working in tropical Vietnam a 10 year old girl comes in with rectal...
You're Zanzibar. A pregnant woman comes in iron deficiency anemia and...
A patient in the Appalachians presents with gram-negative bacterial...
You’re a US pediatrician. 5 yr old comes in who can’t sleep at...
Pt comes in after a hunting trip in Alaska where he ate bear and...
You’re running a clinic in West Africa. Pt comes in with nodules in...
In Africa. Pt comes with angioedema and a complaint that yesterday she...
You are in South Sudan. Pt comes in with an ulcer on her foot. She...
What is the parasite responsible for causing lymphadenopathy,...
A homeless man sleeps with his dog at night. Five years later he...
You go to Something's Fishy for dinner and order lots of sushi. That...
What is the most likely worm infection in the 7-yr old boy in Brasil?
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