MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 1

JUNDEL M. GALERA | Instructor

Laboratory Exercise #4: Amoeboid Protozoan

Targets

At the end of the laboratory activity, students should be able:

1. differentiate non-pathogenic amoeboid protozoans from pathogenic
amoeboid protozoans;
2. examine the different stages of development of selected amoeboid
protozoans; and
3. identify the different parts of each parasite and describe their importance
and function.
Overview

Class Lobosea includes order Amoebida, which in turn include organisms that are
parasites of humans. These are the most commonly found in the lower gastrointestinal
tract. Amoeboid protozoans are unicellular organisms that move and feed by means of
cytoplasmic projections called pseudopodia. These protozoans are classified based on the
form and structure of their pseudopods. Many species can form non-feeding, non-motile
cysts. This stage of the life cycle could be infective in humans. This is also considered as the
transfer stage of most species. Transmission of amoeba is generally by ingestion of cysts in
fecal contaminated food and water.
Stained nuclear structure aids in the diagnosis and identification of different genus of
amoeba. In the cystic stage, the number of nucleus varies which si also crucial for correct
identification. Other diagnostic features present in the cystic stage includes size, shape of
cyst and other inclusion bodies. For the trophic stage, diagnostic features include size,
cytoplasmic inclusions, and type of motility exhibited. The trophozoite is the motile and
feeding stage of amoebas.

Materials

 Compound Microscope
 Prepared slides of the following if available : used the virtual lab in activity 1 for
the following protozoan cyst and trophozoite.
a. Entamoeba histolytica cyst and trophozoite
b. Entamoeba coli cyst and trophozoite
c. Endolimax nana cyst and trophozoite
d. Iodamoeba butschlii cyst and trophozoite
e. Dientamoeba fragilis cyst and trophozoite
 MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 2
JUNDEL M. GALERA | Instructor

Laboratory Activity Proper

METHODOLOGY

A. Microscopic Observation

1. View the prepared slides under the microscope using the HPO.
2. Draw each specimen as seen under the microscope.
3. Draw the respective trophozoite and cyst stages of each specimen observed.
(Refer to books and other resources)
4. Compare the actual specimens observed with the illustrations in published
reference materials.


Enrichment

Answer the following questions to enhance more your understanding. Cite your reference/s
in APA format.

1. Explain the amoeboid motion.

2. Describe the mode of nutrition of most amoeboid protozoans.
3. How could infections by amoeboid protozoans be avoided?
4. Complete the table below:
Name of Organism Habitat in Host Diagnostic Structure
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba coli
Endolimax nana
Entamoeba gingivalis
Dientamoeba fragilis
Ioamoeba butschlii
Entamoeba hartmanni
Entamoeba polecki
Blastocystis hominis
Acantamoeba spp.
Naegleria fowleri
 MEDICAL PARASITOLOGY LABORATORY 3
JUNDEL M. GALERA | Instructor

Illustrations/ Photographs

A. Illustration for the actual activity.

B. Picture of cyst and trophozoite stages of the specimen under a microscope and
label the different structures.
a. Entamoeba histolytica cyst and trophozoite
b. Entamoeba coli cyst and trophozoite
c. Endolimax nana cyst and trophozoite
d. Iodamoeba butschlii cyst and trophozoite
e. Dientamoeba fragilis cyst and trophozoite