Human protozoan parasites, despite their microscopic size, are one of the most dangerous microorganisms capable of causing serious disease.
General information about representatives of protozoa
The kingdom of protozoa has a large number of representatives (about 15 thousand species), many of which are human parasites.
Another name for this kingdom, recognized in medicine and biology, is unicellular organisms.
These creatures consist of a single cell of a certain shape, some can change it, the cell has organelles that maintain viability.Unicellular microorganisms have adapted to locomotion by using cilia, flagella, or pseudopods.
Due to their small size and structural features, protozoa can live in even the most protected tissues of the body.Protozoan parasites are the cause of diseases of varying severity, some of which can even lead to death.
Getting rid of unicellular organisms is complicated because they can become covered with a protective shell (vesicle) and wait for conditions that are unfavorable for their existence.
Classification of the simplest inhabitants of the human body
Unicellular parasites are divided into 4 categories, depending on the structure of the cell and the way of life.
Table "Classes and Representatives of Protozoan Parasites"
| class | Short description | Representatives |
| Flakes | The cells are oval in shape, have flagella for movement, move forward with a cord and thus can penetrate deep into the liquid medium.Flagellate colonies can reach 10 thousand individuals.Most species live in tropical and subtropical climates. | Leishmania, Giardia, Trichomonas, Trypanosoma. |
| Sardcodae (rhizopods) | Movements are performed with the help of artificial animals and have variable body shapes. | Dysenteric amoeba |
| Sporozoans | They got their name due to the presence of a spore stage during their development.Located in tissues and cells, they can cause hepatitis or anemia. | Piroplasmas, Babesia, Coccidia, Plasmodium falciparum. |
| Ciliates | Move with the help of cilia, can live attached or swim freely | Balantidium |
Depending on the location of the location, single-celled parasites are divided into 2 types:
- endogenous (living in internal organs and systems);
- external (choose the skin as the place of residence).
Human protozoan parasites can move throughout the body and infect various organs and tissues.
What diseases are caused by flagella and ciliates?
Class Flagellates
- Leishmania causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (Pendinsky ulcer) and visceral leishmaniasis, the first manifests itself as a constant rotting ulcer on the body and the second causes swelling and bleeding.Leishmania enters the body through warm-blooded animals or mosquito bites and affects the skin, heart, kidneys, blood and bone marrow.
- Giardia, the causative agent of giardiasis, affects the lining of the intestines or gallbladder.After the defeat, people start to suffer from asthma, mental disorders (mostly depression) and the skin becomes dry.Giardia is common in countries with warm climates.
- Trichomonas (depending on habitat - mouth, intestines and genitals or urinary tract), causes trichomoniasis.After infection, one feels an itch in the reproductive organs and a pathological discharge from the genitals is seen.The biggest risk of this disease is the high risk of infertility.
- Trypanosoma causes African or American trypanosomiasis (the former is sleeping sickness, the latter is Chags disease).It affects the lymph nodes (they enlarge), cerebrospinal fluid, blood and spleen, as a result the function of the spleen and liver is disturbed, the patient suffers from drowsiness and may die.
Ciliate class
Balantidia is the causative agent of balantidiasis, which affects the intestinal mucosa.A clear sign of this parasite is diarrhea with mucus and blood.This disease often ends in death.
What diseases are caused by rhizomes and sporozoans?
Sporozoan class
- Plasmodium malariae enters the blood and liver and causes malaria.Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills or fever, central nervous system disturbances and possible death.It is transmitted by the bite of malaria mosquitoes and transmitted to humans.
- The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is toxoplasma, which affects the central nervous system, digestive system, muscle tissue and eyes.At first it appears without symptoms, then disturbances in the functioning of certain organs appear.
Class sardcode
Dysenteric amoeba is the causative agent of amoebiasis, which affects the intestinal mucosa, and less commonly, the bladder and skin.It can be asymptomatic, or it can manifest itself with vomiting, bloody diarrhea and low-grade fever (up to 37.5 degrees).Symptoms appear 7-10 days after amoebas enter the body.
Less common are extraintestinal forms of the disease, which affect the liver, lungs or other organs.This disease is common in Asia and tropical countries.
Routes of infection
Single-celled parasites enter our bodies in different ways - through the skin or natural openings in the human body.
There are four main ways (routes) of human infection with parasitic diseases:
- the contact-home route opens in case of unsanitary conditions and non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene (while shaking hands or using household products, bathing in dirty water, cysts enter the human body and begin to develop), trypanosomes and trichomonas are transmitted through this route;
- through products contaminated with parasites (meat, especially wild animals, fish, dairy products) can be sterilized by heat treatment;an example of a disease transmitted in this way is toxoplasmosis;
- fecal-oral route: parasites leave the body with feces or vomit, then enter water, food, household utensils, hands of the owner and through them into the body of a new carrier (this route of infection is especially common among children: contact with animals, eating unwashed fruit, playing in a dirty sandbox);
- infectious (malaria) - transmission of protozoan parasites through the bite and saliva of the carrier.
Much less often, parasites enter the body in the following ways:
- from mother to fetus during pregnancy, this route is called placental transfer, where parasites pass through the placenta;
- together with contaminated blood (transfusion and other medical procedures, injections, including drugs, during intimacy) - contact with blood;
- during intercourse - sex.
Prevention of infection
To prevent infection with single-celled organisms, a person must follow a few simple rules:
- correct heat treatment of fish and meat, milk control;
- You can only eat those products that have passed the hygiene inspection;
- it is not enough to wash fruits before eating, and simply dip them in water;you need to wash them thoroughly and, if possible, pour boiling water over them;
- avoid casual sexual contact;
- prevention of insect bites (use of special cream, mosquito nets);
- regular medical examinations for suspected infection and for prevention;
- increase immunity, including with the consumption of garlic, oranges, carrots, green tea, dried fruits, rice porridge;
- basic knowledge of which protozoa infect the human body and how they get there.
These rules are easy to follow, the main thing is regularity.
Information about groups of parasites, examples where single-celled parasites live, helps to choose priorities among the mentioned preventions.
With proper prevention, and in case of illness - surgery, parasites will not harm your body.