Parasitic Protozoa and Diseases

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering parasitic protozoa, the diseases they cause, vectors, transmission routes, risk groups, and life cycle stages based on the lecture transcript.

Entamoeba dysenteriae

An amoeba type (pseudopodia) that causes amoebic dysentery (amoebiasis) via the fecal-oral route; found in tropical areas with poor sanitation; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

Naeglaria fowleri

Known as the "brain eating amoeba," this organism causes PAM (=primary amoebic meningoencephalitis) when stagnant water is inhaled; worldwide distribution with low incidence for swimmers; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

Acanthamoeba spp.

An amoeba found in contaminated, stagnant water that causes corneal scarring and blindness; common in tropical areas with poor sanitation; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

Balantidium coli

A ciliate type that causes balantidiasis (diarrhea with cramping) transmitted through farm soils (especially with pigs); common in farmers and animal handlers; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

Trypanosoma gambiense

A flagellate type that causes African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis), especially affecting the brain; transmitted via [ Glossina spp. ] (= tsetse flies); exists in trophozoite stage with no cyst stage.

Trypanosoma cruzi

A flagellate type that causes Chagas disease (South American trypanosomiasis), especially affecting the cardiac system; transmitted via [ Triatoma spp. ] (= kissing bugs); exists in trophozoite stage with no cyst stage.

Giardia intestinalis (=lamblia)

A flagellate type that causes giardiasis (diarrhea) via the fecal-oral route; commonly affects children and swimmers in contaminated water; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

Trichomonas vaginalis

A flagellate type that causes trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease; exists in trophozoite stage with no cyst stage.

Plasmodium falciparum

A nonmotile apicomplexan that causes malignant or cerebral malaria; transmitted via [ Anopheles spp. mosquitos ]; life cycle stages include merozoites, ring stages, schizonts, gametocytes, sporozoites, and oocysts; no cyst stage.

Plasmodium malariae / ovale / vivax

Apicomplexan species that cause malaria transmitted via [ Anopheles spp. mosquitos ]; found in people in the tropics and outcountry; life cycle stages include merozoites, ring stages, and sporozoites.

Cryptosporidium spp.

A nonmotile organism causing cryptosporidiosis and severe diarrhea via the fecal-oral route; particularly dangerous for AIDS & cancer chemotherapy patients; exists in trophozoite stage with no cyst stage.

Toxoplasma gondii

A nonmotile organism that causes toxoplasmosis transmitted through cat droppings or inhaled dust; a significant risk group is pregnant women/fetuses; exists in trophozoite and cyst stages.

[ Glossina spp. ]

The genus of tsetse flies that serve as the vector for Trypanosoma gambiense (African sleeping sickness).

[ Triatoma spp. ]

The genus of kissing bugs that serve as the vector for Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas disease).

[ Anopheles spp. ]

The genus of mosquitos that serve as the vector for Plasmodium species, the causative agents of malaria.