Microbial Diseases Of The Nervous System |
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Objectives: Fungal and Protozoan Diseases of the Nervous System
For each microbial disease listed give the following if applicable:
Diseases:
Additional Objectives:
List the zoonotic (transmitted to humans from animals) diseases studied. |
Encapsulated yeast-like fungus.
May be contracted by inhalation of dried pigeon or chicken droppings.
Begins as a lung infection and spreads to the brain and meninges.
Immunosupressed people are the most susceptible.
Diagnosis is based on serological tests (latex agglutination ) for cryptococcal antigens in serum or CSF.
Treatment: Amphotericin B and flucytosine in combination. Mortality rate may approach 30%.
Cryptococcus Neoformans
Caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and is transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly (Glossina).
The disease affects the nervous system causing lethargy and eventual coma. It is commonly called sleeping sickness. If untreated, death results.
Vaccine development is hindered by the protozoan's ability to change its surface antigens.
How Trypanosomes Evade The Immune System
Encephalitis caused by the protozoan Naegleria fowleri is almost always fatal.
It is contracted from stream or pond water and children are the most common victims.
N. fowleri infects nasal mucosa and spreads to the brain. Diagnosis is usually upon autopsy although there have been survivors treated with amphotericin B.
Naegleria fowleri
