Q20: Pneumocystis: clinical implications and diagnosis

From IAhealth.net

For many organisms the information I learned decades ago is still largely correct (except for a tendency to change the name and then change it again!)  However for Pneumocystis this is not the case.  So here's a little quiz to see how up to date you are on Pneumocystis...

1. True/false. Pneumocystis was first discovered in 1909 and was thought to be a stage in the life cycle of Trypanosoma cruzi
2. True/false.  Pneumocystis is only a clinical problem for immune-suppressed animals
3. True/false.  Pneumocystis species are not host specific and they affect a wide range of mammalian species
4. The following diagnostic methods for rat pneumocystosis are the most sensitive:

1. PCR of an oropharyngeal swab or wash
2. PCR of feces
3. Serology 10-20 days after the infection
4. All of the above
5. None of the above

5. In rats, Pneumocystis was previously known as __________and the species name is/are _______. In mice the species name is P.___________
6. Pneumocystis is intra/extra cellular, is classed as an  ___________________ and does/does not respond to antifungal treatments
7. In people, the Pneumocystis species name is P.______________, the infective stage is the _____ and transmission is by the ________ route
8. True/false.  In people, Trimethoprim/sulfa is the usual treatment.
9. The course of the disease in rats is acute/chronic and peak  disease occurs ____wks after infection
10. Pneumocystis can/cannot reliably be cultured in vitro

11. True/false. Pneumocystis cysts can survive freezing at -80C, but are susceptible to most common disinfectants.

12. The usual stain for identification of Pneumocystis in the lung is __________________

References: 

Peter Walzer in J eukaryot microbiol 2013 60(6)

Procop et al in J Clin Microbiol 2004 p.3333-

Menotti et al PLOS 1 8(4) April 2013

Kim et al experimental and therapeutic medicine 2014. 8:442-446

http://www.criver.com/files/pdfs/infectious-agents/rm_ld_r_pneumocystis.aspx (accessed 9/2017)

http://dora.missouri.edu/rats/pneumocystis-carinii-formerly-known-as-rat-respiratory-virus/

Q 19. Rabbit Bacterial Diseases.

This week we'll do a more 'traditional' lab animal species. There's a lot to know about rabbits, but here are some questions on bacterial infections to get you started...

1. E coli.  True or False?
1. E coli can be identified in normal rabbit feces and E coli overgrowth often results secondary to another infection
2. Enteropathogenic strains of E coli can be diagnosed by serotyping and biotyping  in addition to PCR.
3. PCR identification relies upon the abc gene that codes for intimin
4. Disease manifestation is highly dependent upon serotype: O15:H is highly pathogenic whereas O103:H2 and O123 are not.
5. Pathogenic strains typically exhibit attaching and effacing pathology.
2. Treponema paraluiscuniculi
1. Was formerly known as__________________
2. Is closely related to T pallidum the cause of human __________ (disease)
3. Disease is usually transmitted during___________
4. The  ____ genes are primarily responsible for virulence.
5. Diagnosis can be confirmed from a microscopic sample stained with_____________
3. T paraluiscuniculi (True or false?)
1. Antibodies to T pallidum and T paraluiscuniculi cross react
2. Antibodies to one organism provides protection against the other 
3. The lesions are generally restricted to mucocutaneous junctions and regional lymph nodes and can persist for many months 
4. Following infection, seroconversion follows within 3 weeks 
5. Positive serology in the absence of lesions indicates complete recovery from the disease
4. Tyzzers Disease 
1. is caused by _________ formerly known as ___________
2. Most infections are subclinical/severe.
3. During an outbreak,  there is typically high mortality in ___________ (age group)
4. The most consistent organ infected is the liver; cecum/intestine; heart (pick one)
5. Infection is generally via ingestion of _______
6. True or false?  Latent infections exist, and clinical disease can result from stress
7. _________ (another species) are highly susceptible to Tyzzers disease and have been used to diagnose latent infections
8. True or false? PCR diagnosis is complicated by cross reaction with non-pathogenic bacteria.
5. Enterotoxemia in rabbits 
1. Is caused by the Clostridial organism ___________
2. The toxin responsible for disease is neutralized by antiserum to _______(toxin) from this organism __________
3. Enterotoxemia is most likely to follow changes such as ________________(give examples).  Mortality is highest in  ______________ 
6. The most common bacterial infection in rabbits is _______ caused by ________________
1. The most common clinical form of this disease is _____________
2. This organism is also the primary cause of ________, ________,__________, __________ in rabbits
3. Serotypes __ and __  are most commonly associated with disease in rabbits
4. Infection is usually acute/chronic
5. Humoral immunity protects against ____________ but not _____________
6. Culture diagnosis based on colony morphology can be accomplished by incorporation of _______ , which suppresses most other likely flora,  into the growth medium
7. A single serological test is sufficient to assure negative status. 

Reference: the 'blue book' "The Laboratory Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Hamster, and Other Rodents" Elsevier 2012.

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