Despite their tiny size, human protozoan parasites are among the most dangerous microorganisms and can cause serious disease.
General information about representatives of protozoa
The kingdom of protozoa has a large number of representatives (about 15,000 species), many of which are human parasites.
Another name for this kingdom, accepted in medicine and biology, is unicellular organisms.
These organisms are made up of cells that have a certain shape, some cells can change it, and cells have organelles that keep them alive.Single-celled microorganisms have adapted motility using cilia, flagella, or pseudopodia.
Due to their small size and structural characteristics, protozoa can live in even the most protected tissues of the body.Parasites of the kingdom Protozoa are the causative agents of diseases of varying severity, some of which can even cause death.
Eliminating single-celled organisms is complicated because they are able to be covered in protective shells (cysts) and wait out conditions unfavorable for their survival.
The simplest classification of inhabitants of the human body
Single-celled parasites are divided into 4 categories based on cell structure and lifestyle.
Table "Categories and representatives of protozoan parasites"
| class | Brief description | represent |
| Giardia | The cells are oval in shape, have flagella for locomotion, and move forward on a rope, allowing them to penetrate deeply into liquid media.A group of flagellates can reach up to 10,000 individuals.Most species live in tropical and subtropical climates. | Leishmania, Giardia, Trichomonas, Trypanosoma. |
| Sardinaceae (Rhizopods) | Movement is carried out with the help of pseudopods and has a variable body shape. | dysentery amoeba |
| Sporaria | They get their name from the presence of a spore stage in their development.They are located in tissues and cells and can cause hepatitis or anemia. | Piroplasma, Babesia, Coccidia, Plasmodium falciparum. |
| Ciliates | Moves with cilia and can live attached or swim freely | Balantilan |
Single-celled parasites are divided into two types based on where they are localized:
- Endogenous (present in internal organs and systems);
- Exogenous (choosing the skin as its residence).
Human protozoan parasites can move throughout the body and infect various organs and tissues.
What diseases do flagellates and ciliates cause?
Flagellates
- Leishmania causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (Pendinsky ulcers), which appears as decaying ulcers on the body, and visceral leishmaniasis, which causes inflammation and bleeding.Leishmania enters the human body through the bites of warm-blooded animals or mosquitoes and affects the skin, heart, kidneys, blood and bone marrow.
- Giardia is the causative agent of giardiasis, which affects the mucous tissue of the intestines or gallbladder.After failure, people began to develop asthma, mental disorders (most commonly depression), and their skin became dry.Giardia is common in countries with hot climates.
- Trichomonas (depending on the habitat - oral, intestinal and genital or urogenital) cause trichomoniasis.After infection, a person feels itching in the genital area and observes pathological discharge from the genitals.The greatest danger of this disease is the high risk of infertility.
- Trypanosomes cause African or American trypanosomiasis (the first is sleeping sickness, the second is Chagas disease).It affects the lymph nodes (swelling), cerebrospinal fluid, blood and spleen, causing dysfunction of the spleen and liver, resulting in drowsiness and even death.
Ciliates
Barantia is the causative agent of ballantiasis, which affects the mucosa of the large intestine.A telltale symptom of this parasite is diarrhea, accompanied by mucus and blood.The disease often ends in death.
What diseases do rhizomes and sporozoites cause?
Sporozoa
- Plasmodium parasites enter the blood and liver and cause malaria.Symptoms of the disease are fever, chills or fever, central nervous system disorders, and possibly death.It is transmitted through the bite of an malarial mosquito and is spread by humans.
- The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is Toxoplasma gondii, which affects the central nervous system, digestive organs, muscle tissue and eyes.Initially it has no symptoms, then disturbances in the functioning of certain organs are observed.
class sardcode
Entamoeba dysenteriae is the causative agent of amoebiasis, which affects the mucosa of the large intestine and, less commonly, the bladder and skin.It may be asymptomatic or may present with vomiting, diarrhea mixed with a low-grade fever (up to 37.5 degrees).Symptoms will appear 7-10 days after the amoeba enters the body.
Less common are the parenteral forms of the disease, which affect the liver, lungs, or other organs.This disease is common in Asia and tropical countries.
route of infection
Single-cell parasites enter our bodies in different ways - through the skin or natural openings in the body.
There are four main ways (paths) for humans to become infected with parasitic diseases:
- In the case of unsanitary conditions and failure to observe the rules of personal hygiene (shaking hands or using household items, bathing with dirty water, the cyst enters the body and begins to develop), the route of contact with the household opens, through which trypanosomatids and trichomonas are transmitted;
- By means of products contaminated by parasites (meat, especially wild animals, fish, dairy products), heat treatment can be used for disinfection; an example of a disease transmitted in this way is toxoplasmosis;
- Fecal-oral route: the parasite leaves the body in feces or vomitus and then enters water, food, household items, the owner's hands and through them enters the body of new carriers (this route of infection is especially common in children: contact with animals, eating unwashed fruit, playing in dirty sandboxes);
- Infectious (Malaria) - Protozoan parasites are spread through bites and the saliva of carriers.
It is much less common for parasites to enter the body through:
- This path from mother to fetus during pregnancy is called transplacental because the parasite crosses the placenta;
- With contaminated blood (blood transfusions and other medical procedures, injections, including anesthetic injections during intimate relationships) - blood contact;
- During intercourse - sexual tract.
Prevent infection
To prevent infection by single-celled organisms, one must follow some simple rules:
- Proper heat treatment of fish and meat, control of milk;
- Only products that have passed health inspections should be consumed;
- Wash fruits before eating them, just soaking them in water is not enough; you need to wash them thoroughly and, if possible, pour boiling water over them;
- Avoid casual sexual contact;
- Prevent insect bites (use special ointments, mosquito nets);
- Regular physical examinations to detect suspected infections and prevent them;
- Improve immunity, including by consuming garlic, oranges, carrots, green tea, dried fruits, and rice porridge;
- Basic knowledge about which protozoa inhabit the human body and how they get there.
It is easy to follow these rules and the most important thing is regularity.
Information about parasite groups (e.g. examples of single-cell parasite life) can help in prioritizing prescribed preventive measures.
With proper prevention, and surgical treatment when you're sick, parasites won't harm your body.