Fungus and Protozoa organizer

Aspergillus

A type of fungus that causes skin and respiratory diseases, transmitted via spores and contact; considered opportunistic.

Blastomyces

A fungus that causes respiratory infections; transmitted through the inhalation of spores and is opportunistic.

Candida albicans

A yeast that causes thrush and skin infections; part of normal microbiota and is dimorphic, appearing as yeast in the body and as hyphae at room temperature.

Histoplasma capsulatum

A fungus causing pneumonia, transmitted through inhalation of spores from bat and bird droppings, especially in Ohio and Mississippi valley regions.

Pneumocystis jirovecii

A fungus that causes PCP pneumonia, difficult to treat and common in AIDS patients.

Trichophyton

A genus of fungi responsible for athlete’s foot, jock itch, and ringworm (Tineas), transmitted through direct contact.

Acanthamoeba

A protozoa that causes keratitis and meningitis, transmitted through water from lakes, rivers, and ponds.

Babesia

A protozoa causing symptoms ranging from asymptomatic to fatigue and chills, transmitted by ticks; diagnosed via blood smear.

Balantidium coli

A protozoa causing diarrhea, transmitted through contaminated water from swine feces; opportunistic in immunocompromised individuals.

Cryptosporidium

A protozoa that causes gastrointestinal illness and diarrhea, transmitted via fecal-oral route through contaminated water.

Entamoeba histolytica

A protozoa that causes bloody diarrhea (amebic dysentery); transmitted through fecal-oral route via contaminated water.

Giardia lambia

A protozoa causing diarrhea, transmitted through fecal-oral route via contaminated water; known for antigenic variation.

Leishmania

A protozoa causing cutaneous and visceral infections, transmitted by sand flies; not typically seen in the US.

Plasmodium

A protozoa responsible for malaria, transmitted by mosquitos; diagnosed by blood smear.

Toxoplasma gondii

A protozoa causing toxoplasmosis, transmitted via cat feces and poses risks to pregnant women.

Trichomonas vaginalis

A protozoa causing trichomoniasis, a vaginal STD transmitted through direct contact; can be part of normal microbiota.

Trypanosoma brucei

A protozoa that causes African sleeping sickness, transmitted by the tsetse fly; diagnosed via blood smear.

Trypanosoma cruzi

A protozoa that causes Chagas disease, symptoms range from asymptomatic to fever and enlarged spleen, transmitted by the kissing bug and diagnosed by blood smear.