Protozoa Disease Epidemiology Mode of Incubation Morphology Clinical Findings Diagnosis Treatment Prevention

transmission period
Entamoeba Amoebiasis Prevalent in Fecal - oral 2-4 weeks. Cyst: round, 5-20 mm 90% Asymptomatic. Fecal exam Asymptomatic: Sanitary disposal
Histolytica unsanitary (seen in formed stools) Diarrhea (with or without Serology Diloxanide of human feces
areas Anal - Oral May present blood, mucus) X-ray furoate
(Amoeba) months to Trophozoite: 6 to 60 mm Abdominal pain and Liver Scan 20 mg per kg per Safe water
Common in years. (seen in watery diarrheic tenderness day in 3 doses for 10 supplies
days
warm climate stools) Tenesmus Trophozoite with RBC
Hepatic abscess suggests active Proper food
disesase Mild to severe:
Pulmonary abscess Metronidazole handling
35 to 50 mg per kg
per day in 3 doses
for 10 days

Mature cyst Life cycle and Pathology

ingested

invade
intestines

excystatio
n

Release trophozoite Vegetative feeding stage

Migrate to large
intestine
Abdominal pain
Binary Asymptomatic carrier
fission
Loose stools Erosions/ulcers Invade
Trophozoite Trophozoite 2 Confine in
intestinal
1 intestinal lumen
Blood and mucus mucosa
Encystation

Liver Blood stream Invade lymphatics

Passed in Trophozoite rapidly destroyed
feces
Liver abscess Penetrate diaphragm Lung
abscess Cyst Does not survive gastric
Survive pH if ingested again
 Protozoa Disease Epidemiology Mode of Incubation Morphology Clinical Findings Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
transmission period
Giardia Lamblia Giardiasi Poor Fecal- Oral 1 – 2 weeks. Cyst: ovoid, 8 to 12 μm Foul smelling greasy Fecal Exam Metronidazole Proper sanitary
s environmental Young – 2 nuclei diarrhea Commercial 250 mg three times disposal of
sanitation, Anal - oral Mature – 4nuclei Steatorrhea immunoassay kit a day for seven days human excreta,
Traveller’s Trophozoite: 4 pairs of Abdominal gassy Avoid fecal
diarrhea, flagella, bilaterally distention Low dose contamination,
Prevalence in symmetrical, pyriform in malabsorption metronidazole Avoid
as drug prophylaxis
Philippines is shape, rounded anteriorly, contamination
20 -30%. pointed posteriorly and from flies.
More common in measures 9 to 20 μm
children

Life Cycle Ingestion of

Cyst

invade
intestines
malabsorption
excystatio
n
Decrease digestive
Release trophozoite enzymes

Mechanical irritaition
to the microvilli
Binary
fission
Adhere to
Trophozoite Trophozoite 2
intestinal lumen
1

Migrate to large
intestine
Diarrhea
encystation

Abdominal pain
Passed in
feces

New host
outside
 Protozoa Disease Epidemiology Mode of Incubation Morphology Clinical Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
transmissio period Findings
n
Cryptospoirdium Cryptosporidiosi Animal reservoir Fecal - oral 2 – 12 days. Oocyst: ovoid or Watery Fecal Exam Usually self-limiting Prevent animal manure
s host spherical, thick diarrhea Biopsy of small No effective contamination,
(Coccidian) 2.7% prevalence walled, contain 4 Vomiting intestine lining therapy. Environmental
in Philippines sporozoites, Abdominal Azithromycin sanitation,
Obligate Children, 3 – 6 μm pain under investigation Personal hygiene,
intracellular animal handlers, Anti diarrheal Filter & boil
travelers, Oral & parenteral drinking water,
homosexuals at rehydration Proper garbage
risk disposal.
Life Cycle

Oocyst ingested microgametes fertilize

release sporozoites undergo gametogony macrogametes

invade microvilli 4 merozoites producte zygotes 80% thick-walled

oocyst

trophozoit become type 2 20% thin-walled

Pass out in
e oocyst
feces
asexual 6–8
reproduction merozoites Wall rupture New HOST

produce meronts type 1 meronts

 Protozoa Disease Epidemiology Mode of Incubation Morphology Clinical Findings Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
transmission period
Isospora belli Isosporiasis Warm climates Fecal - oral 1 – 2 weeks Oocyst: 18 – 33 μm in length, In AIDS patients: Fecal Exam Trimethoprim/ Proper human
Poor 13 – 16 μm in width Severe diarrhea Biopsy Sulfamethoxazole waste disposal,
(Coccidian) environmental Elongated abdominal pain Eosinophilia Personal hygiene
saniation malabsorption 160mg/800mg daily Environmental
Obligate Isospora oocyst for 10 days sanitation
intracellular (acid fast)

Sporulatio Sporulated oocyst 2

n sporoblasts

Oocyst
Oocyst ingested contaminates 4
Food & water sporozoites

Oocyst wall
ruptures microgametes fertilize

release sporozoites undergo gametogony macrogametes

invade intestinal epithelial producte zygotes

Schizogony Development of
ony oocyst

asexual Invade new epithelial

reproduction cells Excreted in

Rupture of Release
schizonts merozoites
 Protozoa Disease Epidemiology Mode of Incubation Morphology Clinical Findings Diagnosis Treatment Prevention
transmission period
Trichomonas Trichomoniasis 24% - 37% Sexually 5 – 28 days No cyst stage Inflammation of the Examination of both sexual Suppositories
Vaginalis among transmitted Trophozoite: vaginal mucosa, urine, urethral, partners and acid
hospitality girls pyriform shape, Greenish to yellow vaginal and cervical douches
15 – 20 μm long, malodorous vaginal secretions and Metronidazole,
3 – 8% other 5 – 15 μm in breadth, discharge, scrapings (swabs) in 250 mg three times Protective Sex
women. 4 anterior flagella Painful vaginal female, and in male a day for 7 days -condoms
with 5th flagellum on itching, including semen and -spermicidal
undulating Burning on urination prostatic secretions. foams
membrane

Life Cycle

Trophozoite in vaginal epithelium or urethra

epididymis or prostate gland in male

pH is 5.2 –
6.4

Binary Fission

trophozoit
e

Sexual intercourse

Transmission to
sexual partner