MC3-MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY

EXERCICE NO. 10: PROTOZOANS

I. Compare the different Plasmodium species.

Feature P. falciparum P. vivax P. ovale P. malariae

TYPE OF RBC Invades red blood Primarily invades Primarily invades Primarily invades
INFECTED cells of all ages, reticulocytes, young reticulocytes, older red cells
including bone red cells young red cells
marrow
erythropoietic stem
cells.
PRODUCTION OF Absent Present (Liver) Present (Liver) Absent
HYPNOZOITES
OCCURRENCE OF Absent Present Present Absent
RELAPSE
TIMING OF Every 36 to 38 hours Every 48 hours Every 48 hours Every 72 hours
PAROXYSM
BLACKWATER Present Absent Absent Absent
FEVER
CEREBRAL Present Absent Absent Absent
MALARIA

II. Compare the important protozoans.

Parasite Source of Infection Mode of Transmission Characteristic

Manifestation
Entamoeba histolytica Contamination of fences Ingestion of cyst by tainted Symptoms include a
happens everywhere on the food and water, as well as “flask-shaped” ulcer,
planet. anal contact with an infected diarrhea, stomach pain,
person. weight loss, and fever.
Fulminant colitis,
perforation, and a liver
abscess are all possible
complications.
Naegleria sp. In warm freshwater When swimming in a The most common
sediment, free-living amebae contaminated body of water, symptoms are headache,
live. amebae infiltrate the nasal fever, nausea, and
membrane, travel to the brain, vomiting. Neck stiffness,
or enter the eye through a cut weariness,
or puncture. disorientation/confusion,
photophobia, seizures, and
 cranial nerve anomalies are
all common symptoms.
Acanthamoeba sp. Where free-living amebae Amebae infiltrate the nasal Granulomatous Amebic
live in warm freshwater membrane, travel to the brain, Encephalitis causes redness
sediment. or enter the eye by a wound or in the eyes, poor vision,
puncture when swimming and light sensitivity (GAE)
with contaminated body of
water.
Giarda lamblia It is found everywhere, Ingestion of cysts in Intermittent watery
campers, Ski resorts, dog, contaminated water. diarrhea that last 1-3
and the great outdoors weeks, malabsorption, and
animals, particularly beavers weight loss can last up to 6
months
Trichomonas vaginalis In sexually active groups. Sexual intercourse. Vaginal irritation and
increased yellow or green
frothy vaginal discharge
with an unpleasant odor
Trypanosoma cruzi The cause of Chagas disease T. cruzi parasites are mainly Chagas disease patients are
is the parasite Trypanosoma transmitted by contact with at risk of severe COVID-
cruzi, which is spread from faeces/urine of infected 19 manifestations and
an insect known as blood-sucking triatomine should be a priority group
the triatomine bug, or bugs. to be vaccinated because
"kissing bug." the SARS-CoV-2 can
cause myocarditis and the
chronic Chagas disease
typically originates a pro-
thrombotic status, cardiac
alterations and secondary
thrombotic strokes.
Trypanosoma brucei East Africa; antelope, Bites of Tsetse fly, skin It cause nagana which is a
bushbuck are animal lacerations and the release of sleeping sickness that
reservoirs for human trypomastigotes affects cattle and game
infection. animals. It causes
headaches, fever of both
chronic and intermittent,
pruritus, lymphadenopathy,
mild hepatosplenomegaly,
and trypanosomal ulcers in
rare cases
Leishmania donovani India, Sudan, South Sudan, Sandfly instills promastigotes; Fever, weight loss, and
Ethiopia, Kenya, Brazil amastigotes that live in the visceral leishmaniasis or
soil. Macrophages and splenic kala-azar which is
monocytes, bone marrow, characterized by
liver. splenomegaly and
hepatomegaly.
Toxoplasma gondii Cats/felids Consumption of parasites in Low-grade lymph node
 undercooked meat, oocysts infection that is looks
from cat feces, transplacental, similar to infectious
and blood transfusion. mononucleosis. Still births,
choriorentinitis,
intracerebral calcification,
psychomotor
abnormalities, and
hydrocephaly or
microcephaly are all
symptoms of congenital
infection.
Plasmodium falciparum Worldwide in tropical and Bite of anopheles female Malignant paroxysms or
subtropical areas. mosquito females releasing high fever, and in severe
sporozoites into bloodstream. situations, it can also cause
blackwater fever and
cerebral malaria.

III. The following protozoans are transmitted by bite of a vector. Indicate the vector
for each of these parasite.

1. Trypanosoma cruzi- Kissing bug

2. Trypanosoma app,- Tsetse fly
3. Leishmania spp- Sandfly
4. Plasmodium spp- Anopheles female mosquito