INTESTINAL AND LUMINAL

PROTOZOA
A parasite is an organism that obtains food
and shelter from another organism and
derives all benefits from this association . The
parasite is termed obligate when it can live
only in a host; it is classified as facultative
when it can live both in a host as well as in
free form. Parasites that live inside the body
are termed endoparasites whereas those
that exist on the body surface are called
ecto-parasites. Parasites that cause harm
to the host are pathogenic parasites while
those that benefit from the host without
causing it any harm are known as
commensals.
The organism that harbors the parasite and
suffers a loss caused by the parasite is a
host. The host in which the parasite lives its
adult and sexual stage is the definitive host
whereas the host in which a parasite lives as
the larval and asexual stage is the
intermediate host. Other hosts that harbor
the parasite and thus ensure continuity of
the parasite's life cycle and act as additional
sources of human infection are known as
reservoir hosts. An organism (usually an
insect) that is responsible for transmitting
the parasitic infection is known as the
vector.
Taxonomic classification of
protozoa
Species- Genus- Sub-phylum Phylum Sub kingdom
examples examples

E. Entamoeba Sarcodina-- - Sarcomastig- Protozoa

histolytic move by ophora
pseudopodia
a further divided into

G. lamblia Giardia Mastigophora

move by flagella

P. Plasmodium Apicomplexa
falciparu no organelle of
,m locomotion

, P. vivax
P.
, malariae
P. ovale

B. coli Balantidium Ciliophora

move by cillia
 V. PROTOZOA
Unicellular, chemoheterotrophic, eukaryotic organisms
of kingdom Protista (3-2000 m).
Protozoan means first animal.
20,000 species, only a few are pathogens.
Most are free-living organisms that inhabit water and
soil. Some live in association with other organisms as
parasites or symbionts.
Reproduce asexually by fission, budding, or schizogony.
Some exhibit sexual reproduction (e.g.: Paramecium).
Trophozoite: Vegetative stage which feeds upon
bacteria and particulate nutrients.
Cyst: Some protozoa produce a protective capsule
under adverse conditions (toxins, scarce water, food, or
oxygen).
 V. PROTOZOA (Continued)
Nutrition
Most are heterotrophic aerobes. Intestinal protozoa
can grow anaerobically.
Some ingest whole algae, yeast, bacteria, or smaller
protozoans. Others live on dead and decaying
matter. Parasitic protozoa break down and absorb
nutrients from their hosts.
Some transport food across the membrane.
Others have a protective covering (pellicle) and
required specialized structures to take in food.
Ciliates take in food through a cytostome.
Digestion takes place in vacuoles.
Waste may be eliminated through plasma membrane
or an anal pore.
Protozoan classification

Four major groups of protozoa are

recognised and often given the
status of phylum* . Note, however,
that in the animal kingdom proper
(Metazoa* ), phyla are distinguished
on their different body plans and that
no comparable body plans are found
in Protozoa.
Protozoan classification
The groups are:
flagellates (or Mastigophora)
amoebae (or Sarcodina)
sporozoans (or Sporozoa,
Apicomplexa) and
ciliates (or Ciliophora).
 Kingdom Animalia
Subkingdom Protozoa
Phylum Sarcomastigophora
Phylum Apicomplexa
Phylum Ciliophora
Phylum Microspora
Subkingdom Metazoa
Phylum Nematoda
Phylum Platyhelminthes
 Protozoa as Human Parasites
Taxonomy:
Kingdom: Protista

Phylum: Subphylum: Genera:

Mastigophora
Sarcomastigopho Trypanosoma, Leishmania,
(mastigo = whip =
ra Giardia, Trichomonas
flagellates)
Entamoeba, Naegleria,
Sarcodina (amoebae)
Acanthamoeba
Plasmodium, Toxoplasma,
Apicomplexa
Cryptosporidium, Isospora

Ciliophora Balantidium
 INTESTINE SYSTEMIC
Entamoeba Toxoplasma
histolytica malaria
Giardia filaria
Isospora Toxocara
Cryptosporidium hydatid cysts
Cyclospora cysticercosis
Strongyloides Schistosoma
Ascaris liver flukes
Trichuris lung flukes
hookworm Protozoa
pinworm Nematodes
tapeworms Cestodes
intestinal flukes Trematodes
Protozoa

.eukaryote..has genetic material

encased in a nuclear membrane
(unlike bacteria and viruses)
..classified traditionally by
morphology (eg. organelles of
locomotion), life cycle and
mechanisms of reproduction etc.
 Mastigophora: movement with
flagella - e.g. Trichomonas, Giardia
Sarcodina: pseudopodia, e.g.
Entamoeba histolytica
Apicomplexa: apical complex, no
locomotor apparatus;
sexual reproduction, e.g.
cryptosporidium, malaria, toxoplasma
Ciliophora: movement with cilia, e.g.
Balantidium.
INTESTINAL PROTOZOA
Pathogenic Commensal
Entamoeba histolytica Entamoeba hartmani
Balantidium coli Entamoeba dispar
Giardia lamblia Entamoeba coli
Dientamoeba fragilis
Endolimax nana
Cryptosporidium parvum
Iodamoeba btschlii
Enterocytozoon bieneusi
Septata intestinalis
Chilomastix mesnili
Cyclospora cayetanensis Trichomonas hominis
Isospora belli Blastocystis hominis
 Sarcodina: (**=pathogenic)
Entamoeba
histolytica**
Entamoeba dispar
Iodomoeba butschlii
Dientamoeba fragilis**
Endolimax nana
Entamoeba coli
Entamoeba hartmani
Entamoeba histolytica
(amoebiasis)
Phylum Sarcomastigophora.

Subphylum - Sarcodina:
pseudopodia,

Life Cycle


 Biology
Two morphological stages occur;
Trophozoite - metabolically active
invasive stage, moves with pseudopodia,
ingests RBC, lives in colon and is found in
fresh diarrheal stool;
divides by binary fission.
Trophozoite 10-60 m
cogwheel distribution of nuclear chromatin
Hematophagous
unidirectional movement with
pseudopodia
 Cyst - "vegetative" inactive form
resistant to unfavourable environmental
conditions outside human host;
4 nuclei
This is the infective form resistant to
stomach acid if swallowed
survives up to 30 days;
excyst to trophozoite on passing
through stomach
cyst 10-20 m
chromotoidal body
Adaptations

Cyst: a dormant form characterized

by a hardened external covering in
which metabolic activity has ceased.
Form in response to nutrient deficiency,
drought, and decreased oxygen
concentration, or pH or temperature
changes.
Emerge when conditions improve
Contractile vacuole
An organelle that expels fluid from the
cell.
Freshwater organisms are usually
hypertonic relative to their
environment so water continually
diffuses into them.
To maintain homeostasis, it must use
contractile vacuole to rid cell of excess
water.
 Pathogenesis
Digests (liquifies) human host cells
(colon wall, neutrophils, liver cells)
Disease states:
- asymptomatic carrier-
- symptomatic infection
- amoebic dysentery - mucoid
bloody
- amoebic - liver or lung abscess
 :Diagnosis
- stool examination - for trophozoites
and cysts
- amoebic serology
- abscess aspirate
- Entamoeba dispar a non-pathogen
is indistinguishable by microscopy and
is a much more common intestinal
protozoan than Entamoeba histolytica.
Antigen capture and PCR tests can
distinguish E. dispar from E. histolytica
in heavier infections.
Treatment:
Invasive states (Dysentery,
Liver abscess):
metronidazole

Carrier states: diiodoquine,

diloxanide furoate, or
paromomycin
Other Sarcodina
Phagosytosis