Protozoology

INTRODUCTION

Isna Indrawati
Department of Parasitology
PROTOZOA
• Unicellular animal with full functions
and carry out complex metabolic
activities.
• relatively complex internal structure
• Most species are free living
• Total species > 50,000 and parasitic:
about 10,000
• Some species are considered
commensals , some are pathogen
• Protozoan diseases range from very
mild to life-threatening
depend on :
– the species and strain of the
parasite
– the resistance of the host.
Classification
• Class Rhizopoda
• Ciliata
• Mastigophora / Flagellata
• Sporozoa
Morphology
• Vary in size and shape
• parasitic protozoa in humans are <
50 μm in size.
– intracellular forms : are 1 - 10
μm long
• Balantidium coli may measure
70 μm (extracellular)
Life Cycle Stages
1. Trophozoites / vegetative.
– Active,
– feeding and multiply
– Relative thin wall/ cell membrane
2. Cysts :
– stages with a thickened wall
– Not active
– protective stages resistant to bad
environment
Morphology
Ectoplasm
Cytoplasm
Endoplasm

Vesicular type
Nucleus
Compact type
Morphology
• plasma / cell membrane enclosing
the cytoplasm
• Ectoplasm: the outer and transparent
layer
• Endoplasm : the inner layer
containing organelles, such as Golgi
apparatus, mitochondria, lysosomes,
food vacuoles, contractile vacuoles
 Morphology

Nucleoplasma

endoplasma ektoplasma
Several types of nucleus
• Some protozoa have a cytosome
or cell “mouth” for ingesting and
cytopyge for excretion
• Locomotive organelle
– Pseudopodium, flagellum, cilia,
undulating membrane
• In flagellata : a kinetoplast
associated with the flagellum.
 Reproduction
• Binary fission
Asexual • Schizogony
• Cyst

• Sporogony
Sexual ( after gametogony)
• syngamy
Sexual reproduction
– Conjugation: exchange of nuclear
materials of 2 cells

– Sporogony ( after Gametogony) :

sexually differentiated cells unit 
zygote
 Reproduction
• Binary fission : results in 2 daughter cells

– simple,

longitudinal transversal
Binary fission
• Endodyogeny: by internal budding
results in 2 cells, e.g. : Toxoplasma
Schizogony: multiple fission, results in
multiple cells

Source :www.sciencedirect.com
Multiple fission: Cyst
Sexual reproduction

• Syngamy / conyugation

• exchange of nuclear
materials of 2 cells
Sexual : Sporogony ( After Gametogony)

Gamogony
Sporogony : ordo Coccidia

Source:biology.unm.edu
Transmission

• Cyst / oocyst

• Vegetative / trophozoite
Method of transmission
• Contaminated food and water
• Sexual intercourse
• Parentral
• Sucking blood vector
Thank You