Other body protozoans

Free Living Amoebae

Protozoans that exist independently in moist environments such as soil and water.

Neigleria fowleri

A brain-eating amoeba that causes primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, often associated with freshwater exposure.

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM)

A rapidly fatal disease caused by Neigleria fowleri, resembling acute bacterial meningitis.

Granulomatous Amoebic Encephalitis (GAE)

A chronic, severe neurological disease caused by species like Acanthamoeba, often seen in immunocompromised individuals.

Trophozoite

The active, motile feeding stage of amoebae, typically found in water or tissues.

Cyst

A dormant stage of amoebae, often with a thick double wall, allowing survival in adverse conditions.

Acanthamoeba

A species of amoeba known to cause amoebic keratitis and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, characterized by spine-like projections.

Balmuthia mandrelaris

A rare but potentially fatal amoeba that can cause amoebic encephalitis, with symptoms resembling stroke.

Amoebic Keratitis

An infection of the cornea caused by Acanthamoeba, often associated with contact lens use.

Olfactory Route

The pathway through which Neigleria fowleri enters the brain, typically after exposure to contaminated water.

CSF Glucose Levels

Usually normal in Neigleria fowleri infection; may decrease due to the body's response to infection.

Culture Techniques

Methods used to grow amoebae in laboratory settings, such as using TSA agar overlaid with E. coli for Acanthamoeba.

Environmental Conditions

Factors that affect the life cycle stages of amoebae, including temperature and nutrient availability.

Trichomonas vaginalis

A flagellate organism causing trichomoniasis, the primary non-viral STD, and typically acquired through sexual intercourse.

Trichomoniasis

A disease caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, characterized by symptoms such as frothy vaginal discharge and dysuria.

Mucosal surface

The location where Trichomonas vaginalis resides, particularly in infected females in the vagina.

Strawberry appearance

A clinical sign of trichomoniasis presenting as punctate hemorrhagic spots in the vaginal and cervical mucosa.

Trophozoite

The motile and infective stage of Trichomonas vaginalis, measuring about 7-23 micrometers long.

Endometritis

A potential progression of trichomonas that can occur in women, leading to inflammation of the endometrium.

Cyst stage

An inactive form absent in Trichomonas vaginalis; it only exists in the trophozoite form.

Trichomonas tenax

An oral flagellate found in humans, dogs, and cats associated with poor oral hygiene and capable of causing necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis.

Transmission of Trichomonas tenax

Occurs through saliva, droplet spray, kissing, or using contaminated dishes or water.

Toxoplasma gondii

A coccidia that can infect the human central nervous system with both sexual and asexual life cycles.

Oocysts

The resilient developmental stages of Toxoplasma gondii excreted in cat feces, capable of surviving in the environment for long periods.

Toxoplasmosis

A disease caused by Toxoplasma gondii, potentially severe in immunocompromised patients.

Congenital transmission

The process by which Toxoplasma can be passed from mother to fetus, particularly dangerous during early trimesters.

Serological methods

Techniques used to detect antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.