ZOO 4232 Human Parasitology Lecture Schedule

Fall Semester, 2023

Date Topic Instructor

August 23 (Wed) Introduction to Course P. Kima

25 (Fri) Primer/Review-The Eukaryotic Cell P. Kima

28 (Mon) Primer/Review- The Host Immune Response P. Kima

30 (Wed) Primer P. Kima

September 1 (Fri) Primer P. Kima

4 (Mon) No Class - Labor day

6 (Wed) Protozoa: General Features/Visceral Protozoa P. Kima

8 (Fri) Visceral Protozoa (Amoeba and Ciliates) P. Kima

11 (Mon) Visceral Protozoa (Amoeba and Ciliates) P. Kima

13 (Wed) Visceral Protozoa (Flagellates) P. Kima

15 (Fri) Visceral Protozoa (Flagellates) P. Kima

18 (Mon) Visceral Protozoa (Flagellates) P. Kima

20 (Wed) Visceral Protozoa (Flagellates) P. Kima

21-22 (Thu/Fri) Exam 1 (Eukaryotic cell/Immune Response/Visceral Protozoa)

• Protozoa:
» Single Celled Organisms

• Vectors - Arthropods

• Trematodes, Cestodes - Flatworms

• Nematodes – Roundworms
 Protozoa
• Phylum Sarcomastigophora (have flagella,
pseudopodia or both).
• Subphylum Sarcodina (protoplasmic flow without
discrete pseudopodia). Examples: Entamoeba, Naegleria,
Acanthamoeba
• Subphylum Mastigophora (trophozoites are
motile stage, typically contain 1 to few flagellar). Examples:
Leishmania (kinetoplastids), Giardia, Trichomonas
• Phylum Ciliophora (have simple or compound cilia, two
types of nuclei). Example: Balantidium
• Phylum Apicomplexa (have apical complex –
micronemes, conoids…). Examples: Plasmodium,
Toxoplasma
 Size
• Protozoa range in size
from 1 to 150μm

• The smaller members,

1-15μm include most of
the intracellular
parasites (example:
Leishmania,
Toxoplasma)
• The largest member is
the ciliate Balantidium
coli
 Plasma Membrane
• Eukaryotic

• Thin membrane called

plasmalemma

• Also called pellicle

(ciliates) or ectoderm or
outer membrane

• Microtubules line outer

membrane (subpellicular
microtubules)
 Cytoplasm
• Ectoplasm (the outer transparent
layer) and endoplasm (inner fluid
layer containing organelles).

• Cytostome or cell mouth for

ingesting fluids – (often seen in
ciliates) [flagella pocket may serve
same function].

• Contractile vacuoles, presumably

for osmoregulation (often seen in
sarcodinas and ciliates)
Structures that mediate locomotion
Flagellum/Cilium

(kinetosome)
Example

Take notice of:

Recurrent flagellum
Undulating membrane
Flagella pocket
Four types of pseudopodia

2 1

3
4
 Other structures
• Axostyle: Supporting
structure embedded along
the longitudinal axis on
the cytoplasm (some
flagellates).
• Costa: Rodlike structure
that runs along base of
undulating membrane.
• Pelta: crescent shaped
membrane in certain
flagellates (Trichomonas)
 Encystation

• Many protozoa form cysts – round

cytoplasmic mass surrounded by a rigid or
semi-rigid cyst wall secreted by organism.
• Function: 1. Protect against unfavorable external
environmental conditions.
2. Are the site for morphogenesis and nuclear
division.
3. Are the infective or transmissible form of
parasite.
 Nucleus
Typically eukaryotic
• Two morphologically distinct nuclei:
– Vesicular (scattered chromatin, nucleoli-like body called
karyosome –lacks DNA in parasitic amoebas but contains
DNA in apicomplexans)
– Compact (densely packed chromatin)
» Ciliates have a macronucleus (trophic activities) and a
micronucleus (reproductive activities).
 REPRODUCTION
Asexual
Fission – Asexual reproduction
Division follows a sequence: organelles
then nucleus and then the cytoplasm
- Binary fission - each parent gives rise to
two progeny (divisions in Amoebida,
Kinetoplastida etc).
 ENDOPOLYOGENY(multiple fission)

• Endodyogeny is a form of endopolyogeny

where two daughters are formed.
• Daughter cells form in the center of the
mother cell (internal budding).
 Schizogony
• Rapid organelle and nuclear divisions occur
at the cell periphery.
• Cytoplasmic segmentation to form separate
organisms called merozoites.
• The multinucleated cell is called the
schizont or segmenter.
 Sexual Reproduction
• Conjugation: specialized sexual
reproduction (mostly in ciliates) involving
nuclear exchange and union (similar to
prokaryotes) after cells join.
• Syngamy - union of the entire cell (gametes
fuse).