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Questions and Answers
Which of the following is NOT a type of motility exhibited by protozoa?
What is the primary mode of transmission of Wuchereria bancrofti?
Which of the following is NOT a type of helminth?
What is the primary method of prevention against parasitic diseases?
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Which protozoan is responsible for causing dysentery?
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What is the name of the disease caused by Taenia saginata?
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Which of the following is NOT a type of asexual reproduction in protozoa?
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What is the name of the medication commonly used to treat protozoan infections?
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Study Notes
Protozoa
- Unicellular eukaryotic organisms with complex life cycles, contributing to diverse ecological roles.
- Reproduce through sexual and asexual methods; motility is achieved via flagella, cilia, or amoeboid movement.
- Asexual reproduction methods include:
- Binary fission: a single organism divides into two equal parts.
- Schizogony: multiple divisions occur before cell division, producing many offspring simultaneously.
- Sexual reproduction involves:
- Gametogony: formation of gametes.
- Conjugation: exchange of genetic material between organisms.
- Significant intestinal protozoa impacting human health:
- Entamoeba histolytica: causes dysentery.
- Balantidium coli: linked to gastrointestinal distress.
- Giardia lamblia: causes giardiasis, leading to diarrhea.
- Trichomonas vaginalis: sexually transmitted infection causing vaginitis.
- Cryptosporidium parvum: causes cryptosporidiosis, resulting in watery diarrhea.
- Isospora belli: associated with opportunistic infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
- Diseases from protozoan infections can range from mild gastrointestinal disturbances to severe conditions like liver abscesses.
Helminthes (Worms)
- Classified into three main groups:
- Nematodes (roundworms)
- Trematodes (flukes)
- Cestodes (tapeworms)
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Trematodes include:
- Liver flukes, intestinal flukes, blood flukes, and lung flukes.
- Schistosoma species cause schistosomiasis, a significant health issue in endemic areas.
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Cestodes examples:
- Taenia saginata (beef tapeworm) leads to taeniasis.
- Hymenolepis nana (dwarf tapeworm) causes hymenolepiasis, particularly in children.
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Nematodes examples:
- Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm) leading to enterobiasis, common in children.
- Ascaris lumbricoides (roundworm) causes ascariasis, affecting nutrient absorption.
- Wuchereria bancrofti: causative agent of elephantiasis, transmitted through mosquito bites, causing severe lymphedema.
General Treatment
- Treatment strategies vary based on the specific parasite involved:
- Common medications include:
- Metronidazole and Tinidazole for protozoal infections.
- Specific antimalarial drugs integrated based on the malaria parasite type.
- Common medications include:
- Prevention strategies emphasize:
- Adopting proper hygiene and sanitation practices.
- Avoiding ingestion of contaminated food and water to decrease infection risk.
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Description
Test your knowledge of protozoa, a group of unicellular eukaryotic organisms with complex life cycles. Learn about their reproduction methods and the diseases they cause in humans.
