Dr.

Nakpil

I.1 Amoeba & Flagellates

Objective:
To be able to know the most common intestinal
protozoans

1. CYST
reproductive or protective function

PROTOZOA
Sarcodina

Mastigophora

Ciliata

Sporozoa

PROTOZOA
single-celled animals
metazoa: many celled animals
structure of a typical protozoa consisits of a little
protoplasm containing a nucleus, which is surrounded
by a membrane
organelles: various parts of the protozoan cell
(nucleus, flagella, food vacuole, etc.)
each protozoan is a complete unit
can perform physiologic functions with its one cell
these same functions require specialized multi cells in
higher animals
LOCOMOTION
Basis of classification of protozoa
AMOEBA
pseudopods
FLAGELLATES
flagella
CILIATES
cilia
Trichomonas
undulating membrane
LIFE CYCLE
parasites exhibit life cycles involving various
morphological forms
these forms may reside in one or more hosts and can
be found in tissues and fluids
because of their size and variable cellular
characteristics, parasites can be identified by
microscopic methods

Krish Justine

July 13, 2012

contains large stores of glycogen that can be stained

formed by inactivating its cyst form
non motile; non feeding stage
stage infective of man transmission of cyst stage by
focally contaminated food or water
excystation occurs in lower intestine and organism
begin to multiply as trophozoites
more useful for laboratory identification
most parasitic protozoans are in cyst stage when
observed in stained smears EXCEPT:
Trichomonas vaginalis (because no cyst stage)
Giardia lamblia

2. TROPHOZOITE
motile
active, feeding stage
similar to the vegetative stage of the bacteria
causes the pathological condition of the host

we do not have specimen of the ff but it is included in

the handout
TRICHOMONAS VAGINALIS
in females: infestions are limited to vuvla, vagina and
cervix
In males: prostate, seminal vesicles and urethra are
affected
major symptoms in females:
profuse, frothy yellowish vaginal discharge
with tendersness, pruritus & burning of the vulva
usual size: 5-15m
general appearance: very similar to T. hominis from
which they differ in having a short undulating
membrane, extending only about half the distance to
the posterior end of the body, without free flagellum
jerky nond directional motility

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