protozoans

Entamoeba histolytica cyst

1-4 nuclei

blunt, rounded ends

10-20 microns

Entamoeba coli cyst

4-8 nuclei

glass splinter-like chromatoidal bars (immature cysts)

10-33 microns

Endolimax nana cyst

oval shaped

1-4 nuclei

5-14 microns

Iodamoeba butschlii cyst

irregular shape

6-15 microns

1 nucleus

well defined glycogen vacuole

Chilomastix mesnili cyst

lemon shape due to cap

1 nucleus

Balantidum coli cyst

round, smooth, thick wall

large macronucleus inside

Trichomonas vaginalis cyst

no cyst

Dientamoeba fragilis cyst

no cyst

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense cyst

no cyst

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense cyst

no cyst

Trypanosoma cruzi

no cyst

Leishmania spp.

no cyst

Entamoeba coli cysts

Iodamoeba butschlii cysts

Giardia lamblia cysts

Endolimax nana cysts

what do i use to stain Endolimax nana

methylene blue

what do i use to stain Giardia lamblia

methylene blue

what do i use to stain Iodamoeba butschlii

iodine

what do i use to stain Entamoeba coli

iodine

4 small nuclei

Endolimax nana

4-8 larger nuclei

Entamoeba coli

split down the middle

4 nuclei probably cant see

Giardia lamblia

1 big vacuole

Iodamoeba butschlii

Entamoeba histolytica pathology

ulcerative colitis (bloody dysentery)

ingests RBC

extraintestinal amebiasis → hepatomegaly or brain infection

Entamoeba coli

non pathogenic

Endolimax nana

non pathogenic

Iodamoeba buetschlii

mostly harmless

causes diarrhea

Chilomastix mesnili

harmless

diarrhea suspected

Giardia lamblia

abdominal pain

malabsorption

foul-smelling diarrhea

gas (purple burps)

Balantidium coli

often asymptomatic

can cause intestinal lesions → dysentery

Trichomonas vaginalis

asymptomatic/prostatis in men

vaginal irritation/itching/discharge/burning in women

Dientamoeba fragilis

usually asymptomatic

diarrhea

anorexia

abdominal pain

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

CNS impariment in 6-12 months

perivascular cuffing

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

CNS impairment within one month

Trypanosoma cruzi

chagas disease

acute stage → asymptomatic

chronic stage → cardiomegaly, gastrointestinal issues (megacolon, megaesophagus)

Leishmania donovani

Visceral Leishmaniasis

hepatosplenomegaly

fatal within 2 years

Leishmania mexicana/tropica

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

lesions on the skin

Leishmania braziliensis

Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis

affects skin and mucous membranes

Entamoeba histolytica infective stage

mature cyst

fecal-oral route

Entamoeba coli infective stage

mature cyst

fecal-oral route

Endolimax nana infective stage

mature cyst

fecal-oral route

Iodamoeba buetschlii infective stage

mature cyst

fecal-oral route

Chilomastix mesnili infective stage

cyst

fecal-oral route

Giardia lamblia infective stage

cyst

fecal-oral route

Balantidium coli infective stage

cyst

fecal-oral route

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infective stage

metacyclic trypanomastigote

tsetse fly vector

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

metacyclic trypomastigote

tsetse fly vector

Trypanosoma cruzi infective stage

metacyclic trypomastigote

triatomine bug vector (its in the feces)

Leishmania spp. infective stage

promastigote

sandfly vector

Trichomonas vaginalis infective stage

trophozoite

sexual transmission

Dientamoeba fragilis infective stage

trophozoite

in pinworm eggs

Entamoeba histolytica diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Entamoeba coli diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Endolimax nana diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Iodamoeba buetsclii diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Chilomastix mesnili diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Giardia lamblia diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Balantidium coli diagnostic stage

cysts and trophozoites in feces

Trichomonas vaginalis diagnostic stage

trophozoite found in vaginal/prostatic secretions and urine

Dientamoeba fragilis diagnostic stage

trophozoite in feces

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense diagnostic stage

trypomastigotes in blood/lymph/spinal fluid

Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense diagnostic stage

trypomastigotes in blood/lymph/spinal fluid

Trypanosoma cruzi diagnostic stage

trypanomastigotes in a blood smear (acute phase)

amastigotes in the heart or spleen

Leishmania spp. diagnostic phase

amastigotes found in tissue samples

Entamoeba histolytica

pseudopods

Entamoeba coli

pseudopods

Endolimax nana

pseudopods

Iodamoeba buetschilii

pseudopods

Dientamoeba fragilis

pseudopods

Chilomastix mesnili

three anterior flagella + 1 in a cytostomal groove

Giardia lamblia

four pairs of flagella (eight total)

Trichomonas vaginalis

four anterior flagella and an undulating membrane

undulating membrane

fin-like extension of the plasma membrante, attached to the flagellum.

ex. Trypanosoma spp. and Trichomonas vaginalis

Trypanosoma brucei ssp.

single flagellum and undulating membrane

Trypanosoma cruzi (trypomastigote stage)

flagellum and undulating membrane

Trypanosoma cruzi (amastigote)

non-motile; no external flagellum

Balantidium coli

cilia

Leishmania spp. (promastigote)

single flagellum

Leishmania spp. (amastigote)

non-motile; lack external flagellum

pseudopod

projection of a cell’s cytoplasm used for ameboid movement

ex. Entamoeba spp.

flagellum

whip-like appendage used for propulsion

cilia

short, hair-like structures that cover the cell and move in unison to allow for movement

trophozoite mobility

motile feeding stage of a protozoan

cyst mobility

non-motile, dormant

amastigot motility

non-motile stage

promastigote motility

motile stage; single anterior flagellum, no undulating membrane

ex. Leishmania spp. and Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypomastigote motility

motile stage, single flagellum, long undulating membrane

ex. Trypanosoma brucei ssp.

Epimastigote

motile stage, flagellum, short undulating membrane

Entamoeba gingivalis

Entamoeba histolytica

Endolimax nana/Entamoeba coli/Iodamoeba buetschlii

Balantidium coli

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense/Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

Trypanosoma cruzi

Leishmania donovani/Leishmania mexicana

Chilomastix mesnili

Giardia lamblia

Trichomonas vaginalis

Dientamoeba fragilis