Human Diseases - protozoan parasites

organic compounds (chemoorgannotrophs)

• asexually
• sexually

resting form of a parasite

acitve, vegetative form of the parasite

formation of a cyst

• escape from the cyst
• triggered by return to a favorable environment or by entry into a new host

• food and water
• vector -born
• sexually transmitted

• kinetoplastids
• apicomplexans
• trichomonas
• giardia

• cyst contaminated water
• animal reservoirs
• asymptomatic human carriers

cysts --> trophozoites --> attach to intestinal epithelium and interfere with nutrient absorption

Giardiasis

diarrhea, epigastric pain cramps

antiprotozoal agents

aviod contaminated water and use filters or boiling to treat drinking water

trichomonas vaginalis

• 1.accumulation of leukocytes at site of infection
• 2. yellow vaginal discharge/itching in females
• 3. burning urination in males

observation of parasite in vaginal discharge, semen, or urine

caused by entamoeba histolytic

asymptomatic to fulminatind dysentery, exhaustive diarrhea, appendicitis and abscesses of liver, lungs and brain

ingestion of mature cysts from fecally contaminated water, food or hands or from fecal exposure during sexual contact

• specialized DNA-containing organelle located in the mitochondrion
• has catenated kDNA circles that encode proteins involved in mitochondrial energy production

• flagellated kinetoplastids
• both types of hemoflagellate diseases

bites of infected arthropods