PARAZITOLOGIJA

PROTOZOA HELMINTI
NEMATODA PLATYHELMINTHES – TREMATODA
1. AMAEBE
(okrugli crvi) CESTODE (pljosnati crvi) (Metilji)
2. FLAGELATI
(MASTIGOPHORE)
3. SPOROZOASIDA
(PLAZMODIUM)

Protozoa are free-living, single celled, eucaryotic cells with a cytoplasmic membrane and cellular
organelles, including 1 or 2 nuclei, mitochondria, food vacuoles, and endoplasmic reticulum. They come in
many sizes, from 5 micrometers to 2 millimeters. They have an outer layer of cytoplasm (ectoplasm) and
an inner layer (endoplasm), which appear different from each other under the microscope.
The protozoa ingest solid pieces of food through a small mouth called the cytostome. For example, amoe
bas (Entamoeba histolitica) can ingest human red blood cells into their cytoplasm. The protozoa reproduce
asex ually, undergoing DNA replication followed by division into 2 cells. They also reproduce sexually by the
fusion of 2 cells, followed by the exchange of DNA and separa tion into 2 cells again.
When exposed to new environments (such as temper ature changes, transit down the intestinal tract, or
chemical agents), the protozoa can secrete a protective coat and shrink into a round armored form, called
the cyst. It is this cyst form that is infective when ingested by humans. Following ingestion it converts back
into the motile form, called the trophozoite.