Entamoeba, Balantidium,

Trichomonas & Gardia

Aman Ullah
B.Sc. MLT
M. Phil Microbiology
Master in Health Research
Certificate in Health Professional Education
 Entamoeba histolytica
Classification: Protozoan-Rhizopod-Amoeba
Host: Homo sapiens
Transmission: Faecal-oral (alimentary)
Infective stage: Mature cyst
Localisation: Large intestine
Pathogenicity:
1) Intestinal amoebiasis (Amebic dysentery): formation of ulcerus of the wall of the
intestine, acute or chronic diarrhoea, stool containing blood and mucus; may be
asymptomatic infection.
2) Extra- intestinal amoebiasis: abscess of liver, lung, brain, skin.
Laboratory diagnosis: Fresh stools are examined under the microscope. E. histolytica
(cysts with 4 nuclei) can be demonstrated in the stools.
 Life cycle

Cyst: infective Inters mouth through

stage contaminated food, drink, To L.I. lumen and change
fly, or through using human into trophozoite
stool as fertilizer (pathogenic stage)

Can do
erosion
through B.V. Produce lytic enzymes
to liver and (capable of doing lysis
other organs Flask shape and produce ulcer)
ulcer
 Balantidium coli
Classification: Protozoan-Ciliate
Disease: Balantidiasis
Geographical distribution: Cosmopolitan.
Hosts: Man, domestic pig
Transmission: Faecal-oral (alimentary)
Localisation: Large intestine
Clinical Manifestations: Colitis, ulcers and abscesses of colon,
diarrhoea, blood and mucus in the stool.
Laboratory diagnosis: Microscopic examination of the faeces.
 Trichomonas vaginalis
Classification: Protozoan-flagellates-urogenital
Disease: Urogenital trichomoniasis
Geographical distribution: cosmopolitan
Host: man
Transmission: by sexual contact; otherwise (through contact with toilet seats and
towels, for example)
Localisation: vagina, urethra, prostate
Clinical Manifestations: vaginitis in women, more commonly asymptomatic in men,
but may lead to prostatitis or urethritis. The main symptoms are dysuria, pruritis,
yellow and frothy discharge
Laboratory diagnosis: microscopic examination of the vaginal fluid, scrapings, or
washing
 Giardia
Disease: Giardia lamblia causes giardiasis.
Important Properties: Life cycle consists of two stages: the trophozoite and
the cyst
Transmission: Fecal-oral route
Distribution: Cosmopolitan
Pathogenesis: Excystation takes place in the duodenum, where the
trophozoite attaches to the gut wall but does not invade the mucosa and does
not enter the blood stream. The trophozoite causes inflammation of the
duodenal mucosa, leading to malabsorption of protein and fat.
Approximately half of those infected are asymptomatic carriers who continue
to excrete the cysts for years.
 Giardia
Clinical Findings: Watery (nonbloody), foul-smelling
diarrhea is accompanied by nausea, anorexia,
flatulence, and abdominal cramps persisting for
weeks or months. There is no fever
Laboratory Diagnosis: Diagnosis is made by finding
trophozoites or cysts or both in diarrheal stools. An
ELISA test that detects a Giardia cyst wall antigen in
the stool is also very useful
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