Pathogenic Intestinal flagellate

Giardia lamblia
 Terminology
 Superclass : Mastigophora
 Class : Zoomastigophorea
 Family : Hexamitidae

Definition:
 Excystation: process of emergence of
trophozoite from the cyst
 Encystation: process of formation of the cyst
from the trophozoite
 General
 In Europe, it is sometimes referred to as
Lamblia intestinalis
 Consists of two stadiums (trophozoite and
cyst) during the life cycle
 Trophozoites live in the small intestine
(duodenum/ jejenum) of the host
 A flagellate – intestinal flagellate – which
moves with the aid of flagellae
 Morphology
Trophozoite
 Average about 15 µm in
length
 Has a distinct "tear-drop"
shape
 Bi-nucleated, two
suckers in the concave
anterior part, two
parabasal bodies, two
axostyle, and 4 pairs of
flagellas
 Morphology
Cyst
 Average 8-13 µm in size
 Ovoid shape
 Immature cyst contains
2 nuclei, and the
mature 4 nuclei, and a
part of the axostyle
 Thick and transparent
wall
 Resistant form
Morphology
Life cycle
 Life cycle:
1. Cysts are resistant forms and are responsible
for transmission of giardiasis. Both cysts and
trophozoites can be found in the feces
(diagnostic stages).
 2. The cysts are hardy and can survive several
months in cold water. Oocysts are
environmentally stable. Survive routine waste-
water treatment and chlorination. The
infectious dose is low; ingestion 10 cyst has
reported to cause infection.
 …continue
3.In the small intestine, excystation releases
trophozoites (each cyst produces two trophozoites).
4. Trophozoites multiply by longitudinal binary fission,
remaining in the lumen of the proximal small bowel
where they can be free or attached to the mucosa
by a ventral sucking disk
5. Encystation occurs as the parasites transit toward
the colon. The cyst is the stage found most
commonly in non-diarrheal feces (carrier)
 Epidemiology:
 Widely distributed – tropical, subtropical,
temperate
 Infects all age group (higher in infants)
 Transmission:
 Fecal Oral contamination (Direct)
 Water – Food Contamination (Indirect)
 Sexual transmission (Homo-sexual): Oral-Anal
Contamination
 Travelers to endemic area
Reproductive tract flagellates

Trichomonas vaginalis
 General
 In female: often asymptomatic or mild to severe
vulvovaginitis (10-50 %), may involve urethra,
and exocervix.
 In male: the organism inhabits the urethra,
prostate and seminal vesicles
 World-wide distribution
 Sexually transmitted disease (strong correlation
with no of sexual partner)
 Simultaneous infection with other STDs
 Occasionally occurs via indirect transmission,
i.e. through contaminated fabrics
 Morphology
 It requires no cystic
stage
 Trophozoite is
pyriform-shaped and
single nucleated
 Has 4 anterior
flagella, cytostome,
axostyle, undulating
membrane, and 1
posterior flagellum
Life cycle
 Life cycle:
1. Trichomonas vaginalis resides in the female
lower genital tract and the male urethra and
prostate
2. Where it replicates by binary fission
3. The parasite does not appear to have a cyst
form, and does not survive well in the external
environment. Trophozoite is the infective and the
diagnostic stage.