One very diverse group of eukaryotic microbes are protozoa. Allprotozoa are eukaryotic, unicellular and lack cell walls. Manyprotozoan are chemoheterotrophs, getting energy and carbon fromother organsims. Two groups of protozoans that are photosyntheticare dinoflagellates and euglenoids. Protozoans are divided into sixgroups: Parabasalids have a Golgi like organelles, a parabasl body,and lack mitochondria. Examples: are 1. Trichonympha which live inthe guts of termites and digest cellulose into glucose. 2.Trichomonas which lives in the acidic environment of the humanvagina, if the pH is increased, it can proliferate and causeinflammation which might lead to sterility. Diplomonadida lackmitochondria and have two rudimentary mitochondria calledmitosomes, two equal size nuclei and multiple flagella. An exampleof this type of protozoan found in well water or lake water ifGiardia, the ingestion of cysts leads to a GI infectioncharacterized by flatulence and diarrhea. This protozon looks owllike in a light microscope because of the two nuclei. EuglenozaEuglenids:lack cell walls, have flagella, are chemoheterotrophicphagocytes in the dark, and have several features unique toeuglenids. For one they store energy in a polysaccharide paramylon.They may move by a squirming motion called euglenoid movement. Theyhave a protein pellicle under thier plasma membrane to give thecell shape. Most have a \"red eyespot\" that helps with phototaxis.Kinetoplastids have a single large mitochondria that contain akinetoplast Two notable pathogens in this group are Trypanosoma andLeishmania. Alveolates have small membrane bound cavities beneaththe plasma membrane called alveoli. In addition, alveolates havetubular mitochondria cristae. There are three subgroups. Ciliateshave cilia for motility or to move water past the cell surface.Ciliates are chemoheterotrophic and have two nuclei. The onlypathogenic ciliate is Balantidium. Paramecium is a well known ponddweller used to study regeneration. Apicomplexans arechemoheterotrophic animal pathogens. They contain apices which areorganelles that contain enzymes that allow the protozoan topenetrate host cells. Three examples of apicomplexans arePlasmodium, cryptosporidium and Toxoplasma.
12. According to CDC toxoplasmosis is a neglected parasiticdisease. Cats play an significant role in transmitting theprotozoan because cats become infected by eating infected rodentsor birds. An infected kitten may shed as many as a million cysts inthier feces for up to 3 weeks after infection. Humans may becomeinfected by changing cat litter boxes or gardening without gloves.Suggest at least two ways a person may prevent infection based onthis information. You may also visit the CDCwebsitehttps://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/pregnant.html(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
