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Experiment No. 12:

The Protozoans
Subphylum Mastigophora, Sarcodina and
Sporozoa
INTRODUCTION

Protozoans are under the Kingdom Protista and they have been divided into several phyla, however, the
major organisms causing disease in man belong to the Phylum Sacomastigophora, Phylum Ciliophora,
Phylum Apicomplexaand Phylum Microspora. Protozoans are single-celled organisms. They are generally
provided with nucleus/nuclei, cytoplasm. An outer limiting membrane, and cellular elaborations called
organelles. Among these are locomotory apparatus, which include cilia, flagella and pseudopodia.
Cyst is the infective stage they form, which are relatively resistant to environmental changes. The
vegetative stage is the trophozoite. The parasitic specis are capable of multiplying within the host and may
be transmitted through biological vector within which they can also multiply.

• Phylum Sacomastigophora
➢ Subphylum Mastigophora: asexual reproduction; flagellated
▪ In the digestive tract
❖ Giardia lamblia
❖ Trichomonas hominis
❖ Chilomastix mesnili
▪ In the oral cavity
❖ Trichomonas tenax
▪ In the genitalia
❖ Trichomonas vaginalis
▪ Blood and tissue flagellates
❖ Leishmania species (L.tropica; L. brazillienses; L. donovani)
❖ Trypanosomaspecies (T.brucie gambiense; T. brusei rhodesiese; T. cruzi)
➢ Subphylum sarcodina
▪ Class Rhizopodea : asexual reproduction; with pseudopodia
❖ In the large intestine
o Entamoeba histolytica
o Entamoeba hartmanii
o Entamoeba coli
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o Endolimax nana
o Oidamoeba butshlii
o Dientamoeba fragilis
❖ In the oral cavity
o Entamoeba gingivalis
❖ In the brain
o Naegleria species
o Acanthamoeba species
• Phylum Apicomplexa
➢ Clas Sporozoa
▪ Subclass Coccidea: inhabit the intestinal epithelium
❖ Isospora belli
❖ Isospora hominis
❖ Cyrptosporidia species
▪ Subclass Haemosporina: alternation of generation ; adopted to intracellular
parasitism in fixed tissue cells and erythrocytes
❖ Plasmodium vivax
❖ Plasmodium falciparum
❖ Plasmodium malariae
❖ Plasmodium ovale
❖ Babesia species
▪ Class Toxoplasmea: reproduce by endodyogeny and/orsporogony
❖ Taxoplasma gondii
• Phylum Ciliophora: ciliated
➢ Balantidium coli
• Phylum Microspora
➢ Includes Enterocytozoan and Encephalutozoon: spore-forming parasites of both vertebrates
and invertebrates.
➢ They are of medical importance due to the increasing number of opportunistic infections
being associated with immunocompromised states particularly AIDS.

At the end of the experiment, students should be able:

1. Define the common terminologies related to medically important protozoans.
2. Describe the different modes of transmission of these medically important parasites.
3. Discuss the life cycles of these parasites.
4. Indentify potentially successful methods for the epidemiological control of these parasites.
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MATERIALS NEEDED

Reference books, Bench Aids

ILLUSTRATIONS AND DRAWINGS

1. Life cycle of Entamoeba histolytica (identify infective and diagnostic stages)

2. Life cycle of Balantidium coli

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3. Cut and paste the life cycle of malaria parasites

 Mode of
Diseases Causative Agent/s Infective Stage Intermediate Host Definitive Host
Transmission

Amoebiasis
Complete the Table

Ameobic Hepatitis
QUESTION AND RESEARCH

Primary Ameobic
Encephalitis
Giardiasis

Trichomoniasis

West African Sleeping

Sickeness
East African Sleeping
Sickness
Chaga’ s Disease

Oriental Sore

Espundia

Kala-azar

Dum-dum fever

Jericho Boil
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Toxoplasmosis