Protozoa

Marc Adriel E. Esperat Group no.
2
G8 STEM-A February 27,
2017
Protists
Protozoa
The name proto-zoa literally means first animals and early classification systems
grouped the protozoa as basal members of the animal kingdom. They were recognized as a
discrete assemblage on the basis of their unicellularlity and were assigned to the taxon
Protozoa. The protozoa have been classified together with several algal and fungal groups in
the kingdom Protista.
Protozoa are eukaryotic organisms (with a membrane-bound nucleus) which exist as

structurally and functionally independent individual cells. None have adopted multicellular
somatic organization characteristic of metazoan organisms. Instead, protozoa have developed
relatively complex subcellular features) which enable them to survive the rigors of their
environments.
Characteristics of Protozoa
1. Notable for their ability to move independently, a characteristic found in the majority of
species
2. Display all the same essential life activities as higher metazoan eukaryotes: they move
about to survive, feed and breed
Classification
1. On the basis of light and electron microscopic morphology, the protozoa are currently
classified into six phyla. Most species causing human disease are members of the phyla
Sacromastigophora and Apicomplexa.
Life Cycle Stages
1. The stages of parasitic protozoa that actively feed and multiply are frequently called
trophozoites; in some protozoa, other terms are used for these stages. Cysts are stages
with a protective membrane or thickened wall. Protozoan cysts that must survive
outside the host usually have more resistant walls than cysts that form in tissues.
Reproduction
1. Binary fission, the most common form of reproduction, is asexual; multiple asexual
divisions occur in some forms. Both sexual and asexual reproduction occurs in the
Apicomplexa.
Examples of Some Protozoa
1. Paramecium- a large nucleus which controls the paramecium is metabolisms. Its smaller
nucleus, the micronucleus, is involved with reproduction. The food and contractile
vacuole if the paramecium functions like those of the Amoeba. Beneath the pellicle are
the trychocysts, small vesicles arranged in a layer with a hairlike thread
2. Pathogenic Protozoa- athogenic protozoa are referred to as parasites and cause a wide
array of clinical diseases. They are broadly divided into: Intestinal protozoa e.g.
Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum.
3. Mastigophora-protozoa that have one or more flagella. Free-living types live mainly in
freshwater or marine habitats, while the parasitic types live inside other organisms
including humans.
4. Ciliophora- generally considered the most evolved and complex of protozoans. Cilliates
are single-celled organisms that at some stage in their life cycle, possess cilia, short
hairlike organelles used for locomotion anf food gathering.
5. Flagellates- subphylum Mastigophora), any of a group of protozoans, mostly uninucleate
organisms, that possess, at some time in the life cycle, one to many flagella for
locomotion and sensation.
6. Apicomplexa- Any of a phylum (Apicomplexa) of protozoans that are parasitic in animals,
especially animal bloodstreams, and are distinguished by a variety of organelles,
including fibrils and microtubules, located at one end (called the apical end) of the cell.
7. Euglenozoa- a large group of flagellate excavates. They include a variety of common
free-living species, as well as a few important parasites, some of which infect humans.
Characteristics
1. Paramecium- has an outer covering, the pellicle, which is strong enough to maintain its
elongated, slipperlike shape. Paramecia are animals which have cilia and contain:
-semifluid, granular cytoplasm which is differenciated in to two nuclei: the macronucleus
and the micronucleus; and
-organelles: the food and contractile vacuoles, the trychocysts, and the mouth and
gullet
2. Pathogenic Protozoa- it is used in maintaining the fertility of the soil and purifying
sewage and wastes.
-it is important to the health care professional because they can cause several diseases.
-dramaric example of a pathogenic protozoan is TRYPANOSOMA GAMBIENSE for dreaded
African sleeping sickness.
3. Mastigophora- employs one or more flagella for locomotion. There are two classes, and
19 orders. The superclass includes a wide variety of organisms, many of which are
classified alternatively with the algae
4. Ciliophora- swims by the coordinated beating of their ciliashort, hairlike structures that
cover the cell surface. Like other protozoans, ciliates are unicellular heterotrophs
5. Flagellates- a cell or organism with one or more whip-like organelles called flagella
6. Apicomplexa- distinguished by a variety of organelles, including fibrils and microtubules,
located at one end (called the apical end) of the cell. These organelles help
the apicomplexan invade an animal cell
7. Euglenozoa- distinguish them from the cells of other organisms: kinetoplastids have a
DNA-containing clump at one end of the mitochondrion known as the kinetoplast, while
the euglenids' cell surface, called the pellicle, consists of the plasma membrane, a
series of proteinaceous strips underneath the plasma membrane, and groups of
microtubules associated with each strip.
Economic Importance
1. Archezoa lack mitochondria and have flagella; they include Trichomonas and Giardia.
2. Microsporidia lack mitochondria and microtubules; microsporans cause diarrhea in AIDS
patients.
3. Rhizopoda are amoeba; they include Entamoeba and Acanthamoeba.
4. Apicomplexa have apical organelles for penetrating host tissue; they include
Plasmodium and Cryptosporidium.
5. Ciliophora move by means of cilia; Balantidium coli is the human parasitic ciliate.
6. Euglenozoa move by means of flagella and lack sexual reproduction; they include
Trypanosoma.
Harmful Effects
1. Microsporans (including Nosema species and Encephalitzoon cuniculi), are implicated in

causing disease in immunocompromised patients
2. Trichomonas vaginalis no cysts, causes vaginitis. (Passes through sexual intercourse,
can lead to infection)
3. Giardia intestinalis (lamblia) forms cysts, causes giardiasis. Causes stomach upsets
and diarrhea
4. Entamoeba histolytica amoebic dysentery.
5. Plasmodium vivax malaria
6. Pathogenic Protozoa-plasmodia cause various types of malaria. Some are transmitted by
blood-sucking insects such as Aropheles mosquito
7. Entamoeba histolyca causes amoebic dysentry

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Marc Adriel E. Esperat Group no.

Protozoa are eukaryotic organisms (with a membrane-bound nucleus) which exist as

Life Cycle Stages

Examples of Some Protozoa

1. Microsporans (including Nosema species and Encephalitzoon cuniculi), are implicated in

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