Parasite

Protozoa

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Protozoa, Protozoal Infection, Protozoal Disease

  • See Also
  1. Parasite
  • Definitions
  1. Protozoa
    1. Single cell, eucaryotic, motile, parasitic Microorganisms in the animal kingdom protista
    2. Some Protozoa have cilia or flagella to aid motility
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Single cell, eucaryotic, motile, parasitic Microorganisms
  2. Variable size (5 microns to 2 mm)
  3. Cytoplasmic membrane
  4. Cytoplasm layers
    1. Ectoplasm (outer)
    2. Endoplasm (inner)
  5. Organelles
    1. Nuclei (1-2)
    2. Mitochondria
    3. Endoplasmic reticulum
    4. Food vacuoles
    5. Cilia or flagella may be present (to aid motility)
  6. Nutrition
    1. Cytostome (mouth-like cell entry) allows ingestion of small particles
    2. Some organisms can ingest entire cells
  7. Reproduction
    1. Asexual reproduction with DNA duplication and cell division
    2. Sexual reproduction with fusion of 2 cells, DNA exchange, followed by cell division
  8. Cyst formation
    1. Protective coat secreted by Protozoa in response to harsh environments
    2. Intestinal Protozoa cause infection via ingested cysts
    3. After ingestion, cysts transform into motile form (trophozoite)
  • Causes
  • Protozoal Infections in Humans
  1. Intestinal Protozoa
    1. See Infectious Diarrhea Causes
    2. Amoebiasis (bloody Diarrhea)
    3. Cyclosporiasis
    4. Giardiasis
    5. Balantidium Coli
    6. Cryptosporidiosis (Immunocompromised)
    7. Isospora belli (Immunocompromised)
  2. Protozoal Infections in Immunocompromised Patients (e.g. AIDS)
    1. Toxoplasmosis
    2. Pneumocystis jiroveci (Pneumocystis carinii, also classified as a Fungus)
    3. Cryptosporidiosis (see Diarrhea above)
    4. Isospora belli (see Diarrhea above)
  3. Sexually Transmitted Protozoa
    1. Trichomoniasis
  4. Meningitis-Causing Protozoa (found in fresh water and moist soil)
    1. Naegleria Fowleri
    2. Acanthamoeba
    3. Balamuthia mandrillaris
  5. Vector-Borne Protozoa
    1. Malaria (Mosquito Borne Infection)
    2. Babesiosis (tick borne infection)
    3. Leishmaniasis (vector-borne by sandfly)
    4. African Sleeping Sickness (African Trypanosomiasis, vector-borne by Tsetse Fly)
    5. Chagas Disease (American Trypanosomiasis, vector-borne by Reduviid Bug)
  • References
  1. Gladwin, Trattler and Mahan (2014) Clinical Microbiology, Medmaster, Fl, p. 336-51
  2. Yaeger (1996) Protozoa, in Baron, Medical Microbiology, 4th ed, Galveston, Chap 77
    1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/