Protozoan diseases

Overview Trichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. In women, trichomoniasis can cause a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching and painful urination. Men who have trichomoniasis typically have no symptoms. Pregnant women who have trichomoniasis might be at higher risk of delivering their babies prematurely. Treatment for trichomoniasis is taking an antibiotic — either metronidazole (Flagyl), tinidazole (Tindamax) or secnidazole (Solosec). To prevent being infected again, all sexual partners should be treated at the same time. You can reduce your risk of infection by using condoms correctly every time you have sex. Symptoms Most people with trichomoniasis have no signs or symptoms. However, symptoms may develop over time. When signs and symptoms develop, they are different for men and women. In women, trichomoniasis signs and symptoms include: • A large amount of a thin, often foul-smelling discharge from the vagina — which might be clear, white, gray, yellow or green • Genital redness, burning and itching • Pain with urination or sex • Discomfort over the lower stomach area In men, trichomoniasis rarely causes symptoms. When men do have signs and symptoms, however, they might include: • Itching or irritation inside the penis • Burning with urination or after ejaculation • Discharge from the penis When to see a doctor See your health care provider if you have any symptoms of trichomoniasis or if you become aware that a sexual ...

What are Protozoans? Protozoans are eukaryotic, unicellular, heterotrophic organisms that can be either parasites or free-living. They exhibit an enormous range of morphologies and lack cell walls, for example, Entamoeba, Plasmodium, Paramecium, etc. Protozoa are not easily defined as they are diverse and often only distantly related to each other. Because of their extreme diversity, the only feature common to all protozoans is that they are unicellular eukaryotic organisms. Thus they have eukaryotic membrane-bound cell organelles that can exhibit various tasks. Protozoan Diseases Many important human and animal Human diseases –African sleeping sickness, malaria, amoebic dysentery, etc. Animal diseases –Leishmaniasis (dogs, humans and rodents), Babesiosis, etc. Plant diseases –Phloem necrosis (coffee), sudden wilt of oil palm, etc. Parasitic protozoans exhibit complex life cycles with various morphological forms involving multiple hosts and vectors. Under favourable conditions, many of them exist in a dynamic feeding and growing form called the trophozoite. Under unfavourable conditions, the trophozoite can convert into a dormant cyst and survive the harsh conditions. These protozoan forms multiply and infect the blood or tissues of humans and induce sickness. Also, Read: List of Protozoan Diseases Protozoan Disease Transmission Entamoeba histolytica Amoebiasis Contaminated water or food Giardia lamblia Diarrhoea Contaminated water or food Plasmodium Malaria Mosquitoes Lei...

Giardia lamblia, an infectious protozoan Protozoan infections are Protozoan infections are responsible for diseases that affect many different types of organisms, including plants, animals, and some marine life. Many of the most prevalent and deadly human diseases are caused by a protozoan infection, including The species originally termed "protozoa" are not closely related to each other and only have superficial similarities ( Within the taxonomic classification, the four protist supergroups (Amoebozoa, Excavata, SAR, and Archaeplastida) fall under the domain Eukarya. Protists are an artificial grouping of over 64,000 different single-celled life forms. This means that it is difficult to define protists due to their extreme differences and uniqueness. Protists are a polyphyletic [(of a group of organisms) derived from more than one common evolutionary ancestor or ancestral group and therefore not suitable for placing in the same taxon] chemoorganotrophic [ Protozoa are chemoorganotrophic protists and have three different ways of acquiring nutrients. The first method of acquiring nutrients is through saprotrophic nutrition. In saprotrophic nutrition, nutrients are obtained from dead organic matter through enzymatic degradation. The second method of acquiring nutrients is through osmotrophic nutrition. In osmotrophic nutrition, nutrients are obtained through absorbing soluble products. The third method of acquiring nutrients is through holozoic nutrition. In holozoic nutrit...