Friday, August 2, 2019

Case of the Week 555 - a Special Challenge!

Dear readers,
I am excited and humbled to be posting my 555th Parasite Case of the Week. I am continuously inspired by your comments, questions, and the rich discussion that occurs with each post. To mark this occasion, I'm asking you all to comment on ways that parasites relate to the number 5. I'll start you off with two that were previously suggested to me when I thought up this challenge:
  1. Pentatrichomonas hominis is a nonpathogenic intestinal flagellate named for its 5 flagella (penta from the Greek pente, meaning five + trich, pertaining to hair [flagella]). By Dr. Neil Anderson
  2. There are 5 lobes of the human lung, and all can be infected by Paragonimus species. By Brian Duresko
Feel free to be as creative as you'd like. 5-lined poems (e.g. limericks) are also accepted! I will post all of the responses next Friday, so you have all weekend and next week to think of ideas. Enjoy!
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19 comments:

  1. Kristin NagaroAugust 2, 2019 at 9:06 AM

    "Quintan fever": fevers that recur every five days, referring to the characteristic episodic presentation of Bartonella quintana's trench fever.

    Congratulations on the 555! Looking forward to many more blog posts!

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  2. Kristin NagaroAugust 2, 2019 at 9:09 AM

    I, of course, forgot to add the louse component to my comment to tie it in with parasites. Doh!

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  3. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 9:20 AM

    When cranial nerve V is infected with Herpes zoster, eating a bowl of Cheerios feels like eating pins and needles. This knowledge comes from personal experience.
    I'm admittedly using the term parasite in its wider definition.
    Congratulations, Bobbie, on the big 555!
    BW in Vt

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  4. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 9:33 AM

    The maximum time of appearance of P. vivax gametocytes (micro and macro) is 5 days, whereas the maximum time of appearance of gametocytes of the other major three malarial species is greater: 12-14 days.
    BW in Vt.

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  5. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 10:21 AM

    Pentastomes (5 body openings).

    Although having a single mouth, there are 2 pairs of hollow fang-like hooks beside the mouth. These fangs can be retracted into slits giving the appearance of 5 mouths.

    Congrats to the good Dr. Parasite Gal for her marvelous blog.

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  6. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 10:25 AM

    There are 5 species of Plasmodium that cause malaria:

    1. P. falciparum
    2. P. vivax
    3. P. ovale
    4. P. malariae
    5. P. knowlesi

    LS

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  7. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 10:33 AM

    Congratulations on your 555 th anniversary!
    There are 5 Ascarids infecting mammals: Ascaris lumbricoides ( humans), Ascaris sum ( pigs), Parascaris equorum ( horses), Toxascaris leonina ( dogs and cats) and Baylisascaris procyonis (dogs and raccoons)

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  8. Hisar fanAugust 2, 2019 at 12:02 PM

    Within the 1st 5 days u can take blood culture for salmonella infections which is somewhat the gold standard not taking bone arrow culture into account.
    Thank you maam
    Like Florida fan,
    An Indian fan

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  9. AnonymousAugust 2, 2019 at 4:52 PM

    Now in Rochester’s sunny clime
    Where I used to spend me time
    A-servin’ the majestic Clinic Mayo
    Of all that brilliant crew
    The finest Doc I knew
    Was Dr. Pritt, Diagnostic Mistro

    It was Dr. Pritt, Pritt, Pritt
    Most skillfull Parasite Gal, Dr.Pritt
    Hi! Slippy Hitherao
    Diagnosis please, Panee Lao
    And be quick, about it. “Lickety split” Dr. Pritt

    This noble Parasite Gal
    Has a blog that’s really swell
    Which has been followed round the globe for many years
    She’s now at 555
    And if I stay alive
    I expect to see 666. Note to Satan, please stand clear

    If I’m ever on campaign
    Licking boots and water green
    I will make tracts to Dr. Pritt at Mayo Clinic
    She’s the one to check my blood and stool
    Mama didn’t raise a fool
    For I’ll surely have a case most parasitic

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  10. Bernardino RochaAugust 2, 2019 at 8:32 PM

    Congratulations, a remarkable mark. I'm a little short of ideas, in any case: Pentatrichomonas hominis (five anterior flagella); Human parasites can be subdivided into 5 major groups: Protozoa, Platyhelminthes, Acanthocephala, Nematoda, Arthropoda.

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  11. AnonymousAugust 3, 2019 at 2:54 PM

    Congratulations Dr. Pritt for this milestone. Best wishes for the next 555. One case leads to another and there it goes, an unending education work for the entire world.
    Florida Fan

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  12. bksAugust 3, 2019 at 10:52 PM

    Five symptoms of giardiasis
    diarrhea
    stomach cramps and pain
    fatigue
    weakness
    weight loss

    ReplyDelete
  13. Blaine A. MathisonAugust 4, 2019 at 10:34 AM

    Many of the earth-based religions use the pentagram to represent the Five Elements: Spirit, Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. Many religious beliefs are grounded in scientific phenomena that were unknown at the time. What many people do not know, is the earth religions are rooted in Parasitology!

    Spirit represents Loa loa and its microfilariae that circulate in the body. This belief is shared with Voodoo as the term 'loa' is a spirit in Voodoo religion.

    Water represents Schistosoma, as water is natural reservoir for which the spirit enters the body.

    Fire represents Trichomonas vaginalis, as people occupied by this spirit often have a burning sensation.

    Earth represents Strongyloides stercoralis as they enter the body from the soil. Some liken Strongyloides to Mother Earth as she can create life in a host without a male counterpart.

    Air represents Plasmodium, as it is carried by flying arthropods! And its erythrocytic cycle created periods of suffering and relief, as a reminder Life is a balance of Good and Evil.

    If you have read this far, yes I am being silly and having fun, letting the creative juices overflow a bit :-D

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  14. AnonymousAugust 5, 2019 at 8:23 AM

    Zen queries to Madam Ascaris

    What is the sound of one hand clapping?

    What does a three lip smile look like?


    A happy worm is the ascarid
    Swims in chyme and squirms like a squid
    As happy as she is
    She has but one regret
    “How do you smile with three lips on the tip of ones head?”

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  15. AnonymousAugust 6, 2019 at 6:51 PM

    CDC has targeted five neglected parasitic infections (Chagas disease, neurocysticercosis, toxocariasis, toxoplasmosis, and trichomoniasis) as priorities for public health action, based on the numbers of people infected, the severity of the illnesses, or our ability to prevent and treat them.
    CDC is working to protect people from these health threats by

    • Increasing awareness among physicians and the public
    • Synthesizing the existing data to help better understand these infections
    • Improving diagnostic testing
    • Advising on treatment, including distributing otherwise unavailable drugs for certain infections (Chagas disease)

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  16. AnonymousAugust 6, 2019 at 6:56 PM


    https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/resources/pdf/dpdm_strategic_plan_2015_2020.pdf

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sir GalahadAugust 7, 2019 at 2:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Sir GalahadAugust 7, 2019 at 2:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  19. Sir GalahadAugust 7, 2019 at 2:50 AM

    5 verses of J.Swift:

    Big fleas...
    Big fleas have little fleas
    Upon their backs to bite' em
    And little fleas have lesser fleas
    And so, ad infinitum

    (Filastrocca di Jonathan Swift
    Disegno di Robert Hegner, 1938)

    ReplyDelete