DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG

School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology

Department of Nursing

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING

LEARNING PACKET MODULE

in
MC 3 L
MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY LAB

LEARNING PACKET 5

PROTOZOOLOGY
BSN LEVEL I
Second Semester A.Y. 2023-2024

Disclaimer: The information contained in this communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution
or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful
(RA No. 10173 Data Privacy Act 2012).

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

LEARNING PACKET 5: Protozoology (Part 1)

TOPIC:
I. Protozoology
A. Definition of Protozoology
B. Morphology, Life Cycle, & Pathology of:
a) Parasitic Flagellates
b) Parasitic Amoeba
c) Parasitic Ciliates
d) Parasitic Sporozoans

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the laboratory activity, the learners should be able to:
1. To know the basic morphology of different protozoans.
2. To be able to distinguish the cyst from the trophozoites.
3. To determine the life cycle and pathology of the parasitic
protozoans.

ACTIVITIES:
A. Engagement
 Pre-conference
 Overview
B. Explore
 Protozoology
 Different Protozoans
C. Apply
 Move exam

OVERVIEW:
Protozoa are unicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotes that have
been studied for more than 300 years, at first as microscopic
curiosities, later as organisms causing disease and more recently as
important components of ecosystems. In addition to being of
intrinsic interest in their own right, protozoa are important in a
number of fields of study, including: (1) as model organisms for
investigations of cell biology, physiology and biochemistry; (2)
ecological processes, such as predation and competition, and how these might
affect the evolution of life history traits; (3) nutrient cycling, food webs and soil fertility;
(4) reconstructing past climate change and (5) locating oil deposits.
In addition, protozoa cause a number of important diseases of humans and
animals, including malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, amoebic dysentery,
coccidiosis, leishmaniasis and toxoplasmosis. Consequently, protozoology – the study
of protozoa – is a discipline with a substantial following throughout the world.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

A. DEFINITION OF PROTOZOOLOGY
Protozoology is a branch of biology that deals with protozoa. Protozoa are
eukaryotic organisms belonging to a group characterized for being single-celled,
most of them motile and heterotrophic.
In a five-kingdom scheme of classifying organisms, they belong to a taxonomic
group within Kingdom Protista, and typically divided on the basis of their means of
locomotion: Flagellates (e.g. Giardia lambdia), Amoeboids (e.g. Entamoeba
histolytica), Sporozoans (e.g. Plasmodium knowlesi), and Ciliates (e.g. Balantidium
coli). Protozoology studies these organisms with regard to their taxonomy,
morphological features, medical importance, etc.

B. MORPHOLOGY, LIFE CYCLE, & PATHOLOGY OF DIFFERENT PROTOZOANS

a) PARASITIC FLAGELLATES
1. Giardia intestinalis (G. lamblia)
Morphology:
Trophozoite:
Nuclei
Flagella
Sucking discs

Cyst:
Cyst wall
Nuclei
Life Cycle: The trophozoites divide by longitudinal binary fission.
Pathology & Control: The parasites inhabits the crypts of the duodenum
causing giardasis. There is duodenal irritation with secretion of mucus, chronic
diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of weight.

Figure 1: Cyst (Left) and trophozoite (Right) of G. intestinalis.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

2. Chilomastix mesnii
Morphology:
Trophozoite:
Nucleus
Flagella
Cytoplasm
Cyst:
Nucleus
Cyst wall
Life Cycle: Trophozoites multiply by binary fission
Pathology & Control: C. mesnili is a normal inhabitant of the caecal region
where trophozoites live on enteric bacteria. Both cysts and trophozoites are
found in diarrheic stool but generally considered as non-pathogenic.

Figure 2. Trophozoite (Left) and Cyst (Right) of Chilomastix mesnili.

b) PARASITIC AMOEBA
1. Entamoeba histolytica
Morphology:
Trophozoite:
Pseudopodia
Nucleus
Nuclear membrane
Cyst:
Chromatoid bodies
Glycogen vacuole
Life Cycle: Ripening of the cysts results in two consecutive mitotic division of
the nucleus to produce four nuclei. Cysts if kept moist and cool will survive for a
number of weeks outside the body. They remain visible for 1 to 2 weeks if kept
cool on for as long as 10 days in water at room temperature.
Pathology & Control: E. hystolytica are confined to the intestines and in soft
tissues like liver. Symptoms include vomiting, mild fever, diarrhea, blood and
mucus in feces, tenderness over the sigmoidal region of the colon and hepatitis.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

Figure 3. Trophozoite (Left) and Cyst (Right) of E. histolytica.

2. Endolimax nana
Morphology:
Endoplasm
Pseudopodia
Nucleus

Life Cycle:

Pathology & Control: E. nana is a lumen dweller of the large intestine where it
feeds mostly on bacteria. It is harmless intestinal parasite, non-pathogenic, and
produces no symptoms.

Figure 4. Trophozoite (Left) and Cyst (Right) of E. nana.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

c) PARASITIC CILIATES
1. Balantidium coli
Morphology:
Cilia
Peristome
Cytoplasm
Macronucleus
Micronucleus

Life Cycle: The parasite divides by transverse binary fission. The micronucleus
divides first and then the macronucleus follows. Finally, the cytoplasm
separates into 2 daughter organism.
Pathology & Control: B. coli are found in the large intestine of man, monkeys,
and pigs. In man, it causes ulceration of the large intestines and invades the
tissues of the walls causing formation of abscesses.

Figure 5. Trophozoite (Left) and Cyst (Right) of B. coli

d) PARASITIC SPOROZOANS
1. Plasmodium vivax
Morphology:
Ring Stage: Within the red blood cells, the signet ring form is central or
submarginal with a red nucleus and vacuole.
Trophozoite: As the parasite enlarges, the ring form becomes irregular
and larger containing dots or threads of red chromatin. Pink granules
known as Schuffner's dots appear in the cytoplasm.
Schizont: The single nucleus has divided into a number of masses. The
typical number of 16 is found in P. vivax. Fifteen to twenty nuclei may be
counted in the cytoplasm.

Life Cycle: P. vivax is found in the intestines and salivary glands of many species
of anopheline mosquitoes. It is the causative agent of benign tertian malaria
characterized by 48-hour cycle between erythrocytic merozoites production,
which is manifested by chills and fever at these intervals.
Pathology & Control: A typical attack of benign tertian malaria begins with a
feeling of intense cold. The teeth chatter and the bed may rattle due to
patients' shivering. Nausea and vomiting are usual. The hot stage begins within
on half to one hour within intense headache, often with a mild and delirium.

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 DIVINE WORD COLLEGE OF LAOAG
School of Nursing, Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology
Department of Nursing

LABORATORY EXERCISE 5

After this learning packet, prepare for a move exam.

Study and familiarize our topics. The date of the move exam
will be further announced by your clinical instructor.

-------------------------- END OF RELATED LEARNING ACTIVITY PACKET 5 -----------------------------

Disclaimer: The information contained in this communication is intended solely for the use of the individual or
entity to whom it is addressed and others authorized to receive it. It may contain confidential or legally privileged
information. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution
or taking any action in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful
(RA No. 10173 Data Privacy Act 2012).