Protozoa and Their Infections

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary and key concepts related to protozoa and their infections, supporting study and retention of the material.

Protozoa

A diverse group of unicellular, eukaryotic organisms, often pathogens in humans and animals.

Malaria

A disease caused by Plasmodium, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes, leading to 200-300 million infections annually.

Entamoeba histolytica

A pathogenic protist that causes intestinal infections, can lead to dysentery or liver abscess.

Trypanosoma cruzi

The causative agent of Chagas disease, transmitted by the Reduviid bug.

Facultative anaerobes

Organisms that can thrive in both oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor environments.

Life cycle of protozoa

Can be direct (no intermediate host) or indirect (requires a vector or intermediate host).

Antimicrobial treatment

Medications like metronidazole and chloroquine used against protozoan infections.

Immunosuppression

A reduction in the immune response, which can be induced by certain protozoan infections like Leishmania.

Oocysts

Infective forms of certain protozoa, such as Toxoplasma gondii, shed in feces.

Cryptosporidium parvum

A parasite causing cryptosporidiosis, acquired from contaminated water, leading to diarrhea.

Chagas disease

A disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, affecting the heart and gastrointestinal tract.

Flagellated protozoa

A class of protozoa, including Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis, that possess flagella.

Premunition

A state of immunity resulting from a chronic low-level infection with protozoa.

Vector

An organism that transmits a pathogen from one host to another without being affected by the pathogen itself.

Cysts

Encapsulated forms of protozoa that enable them to survive in harsh conditions.

Giardia lamblia

A flagellated protozoan causing giardiasis, typically acquired through contaminated water.

Leishmania spp.

Protozoa transmitted by sandflies, causing leishmaniasis, a disease with cutaneous, mucocutaneous, or visceral forms.

Toxoplasma gondii

An obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis, often acquired from contaminated food or cat feces.

Amoebiasis

The disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, characterized by intestinal inflammation, dysentery, and potentially liver abscesses.

Trypanosoma brucei

The causative agent of African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), transmitted by the tsetse fly.