Protozoa & Helminths Flashcards
What are protozoa?
Single cell with nucleus (Eukaryotic)
What is the main biological role of protozoa?
consumers of bacteria, algae, microfungi
How do protozoa engulf and digest food?
All engulf food by phagocytosis and then digest it in intracellular
What is included in the protozoa group?
Includes plants and animals
What are the 5 major groups of protozoa?
● Flagellates
● Amoebae
● Sporozoans
● Ciliates
● Microsporidia
What are features of flagellates?
● Flagellum as main locomotory organelle
● Usually reproduce by binary fission
● Intestinal flagellates or other body sites
How do amoeba move?
Move by means of flowing cytoplasm and production of pseudopodia
What are features of sporozoans?
● No locomotory extensions
● All species parasitic
● Most intracellular parasites
● Reproduce by multiple fission
What’s an example of a sporozoan?
Malaria
What are features of ciliates?
● Cilia that beat rhythmically at some stage in lifecycle
● 2 types of nuclei – macro/micronucleus
What are features of microsporidia?
Microsporidia
● Production of resistant spores
● Unique polar filament; coiled inside spore
● Little known about human disease
What is malaria caused by?
Protozoan infection caused by Plasmodia sporozoan
What are the 5 species of plasmodia sporozoan that cause disease in humans?
- Plasmodium falciparum (main)
- Plasmodium ovale
- Plasmodium vivax
- Plasmodium malariae
- Plasmodium knowlesi
What is malaria transmitted by?
by bite of female anopheles mosquito
How do female anopheles mosquitos get malaria?
● Infection acquired during feeding from infected human
● Infected for life
● Life span 3-4 weeks
