Protozoa Flashcards
What are Protozoa?
Single celled eukaryotes
What size are Protozoa?
Can be about 2000 micrometres, quite big or as small as 10 micrometres
Where do Protozoa live?
Water, soil, humans, animals and insects
What are the 4 classifications of Protozoa and what are they classified by?
- Amoeba - motile
- Flagellates - motile
- Ciliates - motile
- Sporoza - non motile
How many phases does Protozoa have?
Either in the reproductive or resting stage.
In what phase are Protozoa the most infectious?
Resting phase
Types of Protozoa disease?
Cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, toxoplasmosis, amoebic meningitis, malaria, trichomoniasis
How do amoebas attack their prey?
- They engulf their prey by forming pseudopodia (false feet) around the prey.
- the prey is then engulfed in a vacuole (a fluid filled cell) within the amoeba, whereby the enzymes digest the prey.
What is the term for an amoeba digesting it’s prey?
Phagocytosis or cell eating
Flagellates are called so because they possess at least one?
Flagellum - a structure used for movement
Ciliates move using?
Cilia - hair like substances that cover them and beat in a coordinated way to allow movement
Can Sporozoans move?
No, they are non-motile. They transmit from host to host by various species of insect.
What is a common disease caused by Sporozoans?
Malaria
