Protozoan microorganisms Flashcards
Parasites
1) Prokaryotic cells
Bacteria/Archea
2) Eukaryotic cells
Fungi (yeasts/moulds)
Parasites (protozoa/helminth, ectoparasites)
3) Acellular structures
(not made of cells)
Viruses
Prions
Define Parasite;
living eukaryote organism, which takes its nourishment and other needs from a host. Depends on the host for nutrition
ENDOparasites
nside of the host’s body - Permanently
Some anaerobes, some aerobes
Protozoa and helminths
ECTOparasites
ON the outer surface of the host’s body – temporary or permanent
Aerobes
Some ectoparasites serve as vectors of pathogens
ticks, fleas, lice, and mites
Endoparasites - Protozoa
Monocellular
Mostly asexual reproduction (most by binary fission), and sexual reproduction
some are non-motile, those motile use either flagella or cilia
Endoparasites (Protozoa vs helminths) - Helminths
Pluricellular, Parasitic worms (usually visible)
Sexual reproduction
Sexual reproduction
What are the general characteristics of protozoa?
Ranging in size - 2-100 μM
All protozoa are chemoheterotrophs
preformed organic substances
Similar requirements of the mammalian cells
Require HIGH moisture
Diverse oxygen requirements
Establish parasitic relationships with many hosts
Life Cycle Stages
Some protozoa (e.g. Giardia intestinalis, an intestinal protozoal parasite) exist in two morphological forms/stages:
1) Trophozoite
2) Cyst
1) Trophozoite
Motile, vegetative (active) form
Actively feed and multiply
Pathogenic form
2) Cyst
External, non-parasitic form
Possess a protective membrane or thickened wall (survival outside the host)
Means of transfer between hosts
Transmission of intestinal protozoa
Transmission of intestinal protozoa that live in a human’s intestine to another human typically occurs through a fecal-oral route
Contaminated food
Contaminated water
Domestic pets
Sewage/waste water
What is the process of intestinal protozoa?
- contamination of foods, water, hands with infective cysts
- cysts ingested
[cysts > trophozoites = Giardia mature and x in gut]
- infective cysts passed in stool / trophozoites are passed in stool but they do not survive in the environment
Medically relevant protozoa – motality classification
protozoan infections can be inapparent/mild in normal individuals, yet life-threatening in immunosuppressed patients (e.g. AIDS).
Classified by their motile form = portozoa
Amoebae - amoeboid movement (temporary extensions of the plasma membrane)
Flagellates - use flagella
Ciliates - use cilia
Sporozoa - Non motile, spore-producing protozoa
Amebae
Move by extending pseudopods
arm-like projection of the cell membrane
Engulf food with pseudopods and phagocytize
Entamoeba histolytica - feeds on red blood cells