Protozoan Diseases - mini review

Which is true about protozoans?

• unicellular & photoautotrophs

• unicellular & multicellular chemoheterotrophs

• unicellular chemoheterotrophs

• unicellular & multicellular photoautotrophs

Answer explanation

Protozoa are ALL unicellular and are ingestive eaters!

Which group of protozoa are non-motile?

• sporozoans

• ciliates

• flagellates

• amoeboids

Answer explanation

Sporozoans are also called apicomplexans.

Which stage of a protozoa is the active feeding stage?

• cyst

• sporozoite

• trophozoite

• oocyst

All protozoa have a cysts stage.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

Diseases where the infectious agents spends time in the environment have a cyst or oocyst. Transmission is from contaminated food or water.

Which host harbors the adult parasite & sexual reproduction?

• intermediate

• accidental

• secondary

• definitive

Answer explanation

The definitive host is also called the primary host.

Dinoflagellates are algae and indirectly cause?

• paralytic shellfish poisoning

• malaria

• dysentery

• balantiasis

Answer explanation

Algal blooms from dinoflagellates cause red tide and shellfish poisoning.

All GI protozoa disease is transmitted thru the fecal-oral route.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

All are through contaminated water and food & most also from person to person - hand to mouth.

This intestinal disease is known as Beaver fever and backbacker's diarrhea.

• cryptosporidiosis

• cyclosporiasis

• amoebiasis

• balantiasis

• giardiasis

Answer explanation

Most common GI parasite in the U.S. People can get it from infected food, water, other people & their pets. LOW infectious dose.

This intestinal disease causes dysentery.

• cryptosporidiosis

• cyclosporiasis

• amoebiasis

• balantiasis

• giardiasis

Answer explanation

Cause the most deaths worldwide of the gastrointestinal diseases.

This is the only NON-COMMUNICABLE protozoan GI disease.

• cryptosporidiosis

• cyclosporiasis

• amoebiasis

• balantiasis

• giardiasis

Answer explanation

An infected person sheds oocysts that are not mature. Only transmitted through infected food and water - usually produce.