Some Intestinal, urogenital and tissue protozoa

Protozoa Protozoa are microscopic, one-celled organisms that can be free-living or parasitic in nature. They are able to multiply in humans, which contributes to their survival and also permits serious infections to develop from just a single organism. Transmission of protozoa that live in a human's intestine to another human typically occurs through a fecal-oral route (for example, contaminated food or water or person-to-person contact). Protozoa that live in the blood or tissue of humans are transmitted to other humans by an arthropod vector (for example, through the bite of a mosquito or sand fly).

Protozoa classification: The protozoa that are infectious to humans can be classified into four groups based on their mode of movement: Sarcodina – the ameba, e.g., Entamoeba Mastigophora – the flagellates, e.g., Giardia, Leishmania and Trichmonas. Ciliophora – the ciliates, e.g., Balantidium Sporozoa – organisms whose adult stage is not motile e.g., Plasmodium and  Cryptosporidium

Intestinal Protozoa Balantidium coli Is a parasitic species of ciliate protozoa that cause balantidiasis or Balantidium dysentery. Balantidium coli has two developmental stages, a trophozoite stage and a cyst stage. The cyst is the infective stage measures about 50 to 70 µm in diameter, characterized by the presence of a large kidney-shaped macronucleus. The trophozoite is oval with 2 nuclei and measures approximately 50 to 100 µm long and 40 to 70 µm wide.

B.coli Cyst

B. coli Trophozoite

Tissue Protozoa Toxoplasma gondii Habitat: reticulo-endothelial system, monocyte, and muscle fiber and cause toxoplasmosis. Humans can acquire Toxoplasma gondii infection by ingestion cyst or sporylated oocyst Cyst: precipitated in flesh of cow. Sporulated oocyst: cat feces. Intermediate host: Human and cat. Definitive host: Cat. The tachyzoites are crescent-shaped and measure about 5 µm in length. Diagnostic stages: Diagnosis also can be done by detection antibody IgG, IgM, IgE and IgA.

Tachyzoites & bradyzoites

Urogenital Protozoa Trichomonas vaginalis Is the most common cause of vaginitis, inhabit the urogenital system There is no cyst stage but only have trophozoite stage. The trophozoite measures about 15 x 10 µm. The trophozoite has a single nucleus and four flagella and undulating membrane. Diagnosis: Male: finding trophozoite in urethral prostatic discharge Female: finding trophozoite in vaginal discharge.

T. vaginalis Trophozoite

Medical Entomology Ectoparasites

Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012 Medical Entomology Entomology: the science that concerned in the study of insects. There are many of medically important insects, that cause disease to human by itself or by transporting infective stage of another parasite. Pediculus humanus “Lice” Fleas Hard ticks & Soft ticks Mites Cimix lectularis “Bed Bug” Sand fly Tse tse Anopheles mosqueto Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Pediculus humanus “Lice” Cause pediculosis. Pediculus humanus humanus : body louse Pediculus humanus capitis: head louse Lice egg Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012 Fleas Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012 Hard Ticks & Soft Ticks Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012 Mites Cause scabies Mite egg Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Cimix lectularis “Bed Bug” Raed Z. Ahmed, Medical Parasitology Lab.,2012

Cimix lectularis “Bed Bug” بق الفراش حشرة صغيره (غير مجنحة وطولها (4 - 7 مليمتر) ولونها يميل إلى البني الداكن وبيضاوية الشكل) تمص الدماء أثناء الليل وتسبب الحكة الشديدة والحساسية والإرهاق بسبب عدم النوم، تتغذى على الدم خصوصا أثناء نوم الإنسان ليلا أو نهاراً في الغرف المظلمة

Culex Culex is a genus of mosquitoes, several species of which serve as vectors of one or more important diseases of birds, humans, and other animals. The diseases they vector include arbovirus infections but also filariasis and avian malaria.