protozoa Flashcards
what are protozoa?
“One celled animals”
Single cell with nucleus
(Eukarytoic)
what is the main biological role of protozoa?
:consumers of bacteria, algae, microfungi
how do protozoa function?
All engulf food by phagocytosis and then digest it in intracellular
what are the 5 major groups of protozoa?
Flagellates
Amoebae
Sporozoans
Ciliates
Microsporidia
describe flagellates
Flagellum as main locomotory organelle
Intestinal flagellates or other body sites
how do flagellates reproduce?
by binary fission
describe symptoms of African trypanosomiasis?
Fly like symptoms occur first, followed by the symptoms of CNS involvement such as personality change, alteration of the biological clock ie sleeping during the day and awake all night, confusion, speech disturbance, seizures, difficulty walking. Ultimately leading to death if untreated (either by neglect, coma, aspiration, seizures or cardiac arrhythmia/failure).
what is leishmaniasis disease?
disease that causes a range of clinical pictures as there are many species that affect humans.
how is leishmaniasis acquired?
It is acquired through the bite of an infected sandfly. Promastigotes from sandfly in picture
how is leishmaniasis diagnosed
Leish in humans is diagnosed through biopsy (amastigotes seen) or by serology combined with clinical signs.
how do Amoeba move?
Move by means of flowing cytoplasm and production of pseudopodia
Describe sporozoans- malaria?
No locomotory extensions
All species parasitic
Most intracellular parasites
how sporozoans- malaria reproduce?
Reproduce by multiple fission
what are ciliates?
Cilia that beat rhythmically at some stage in lifecycle
what are the two types of nuclei in ciliates?
2 types of nuclei – macro/micronucleus
what is microsporidia the product of?
Production of resistant spores
describe microsporidia
Unique polar filament; coiled inside spore
Little known about human disease
what is malaria?
Protozoan infection caused by Plasmodia sporozoan.
what are the 5 species that cause human disease- malaria?
P.falciparum/orale/vivax/malariae/knowlesi
how is malaria spread?
Transmitted by bite of female Anopheles mosquitoes
life span of malaria
3-4 weeks
how is malaria acquired
Infection acquired during feeding from infected human
how long are you infected for w malaria?
Infected for life
describe the malaria lifecycle
Liver stage in P.ovale and P.vivax has additional hypnozoite stage
Lie dormant and cause late relapse by reactivating months later
Not eradicated by most conventional anti-malarial treatments
