Human protozoan parasites, despite their microscopic size, are one of the most dangerous microorganisms that can cause serious diseases.
General information about representatives of protozoa
There are a large number of representatives of the Protozoan kingdom (about 15 thousand species), most of which are human parasites.
Another name of this kingdom accepted in medicine and biology is unicellular organisms.
These organisms consist of a cell of a certain shape, some of them can change it, and they have organelles that keep the cell alive.Unicellular microorganisms adapted to locomotion using cilia, flagella, or pseudolegs.
Due to their small size and structural features, protozoa can live even in the most protected tissues of the body.Parasites of the protozoan kingdom are the causative agents of diseases of varying severity, some of which can even result in death.
Getting rid of unicellular organisms is complicated by the fact that they are covered with a protective shell (cyst) and wait for unfavorable conditions for their existence.
Classification of the simplest inhabitants of the human body
Unicellular parasites are divided into 4 classes depending on the structure of the cell and the way of life.
Table "Classes and representatives of protozoan parasites"
| Class | Short description | Representatives |
| Flagellates | The cells are oval in shape, flagellated for movement, move forward with a cord, so they can penetrate deeply into the liquid medium.Flagellate colonies can reach 10 thousand individuals.Most species live in tropical and subtropical climates. | Leishmania, Giardia, Trichomonas, Trypanosoma. |
| Sardcodae (rhizopods) | Movements are carried out with the help of pseudopods and have a variable body shape. | Dysenteric amoeba |
| Sporozoa | They got their name due to the presence of a spore stage in their development.Localized in tissues and cells, it can cause hepatitis or anemia. | Piroplasmas, Babesia, Coccidia, Plasmodium falciparum. |
| Eyelashes | Move with the help of cilia, can live attached or swim freely | Balantidium |
Depending on the place of localization, unicellular parasites are divided into 2 types:
- endogenous (lives in internal organs and systems);
- exogenous (choose the skin as a habitat).
Human protozoan parasites can travel throughout the body and infect various organs and tissues.
What diseases do flagella and cilia cause?
Class Flagellates
- Leishmania causes cutaneous leishmaniasis (Pendin's ulcer) and visceral leishmaniasis, the former manifesting itself in the form of constantly decaying ulcers on the body, and the latter causing inflammation and bleeding.Leishmania enters the body through the bite of warm-blooded animals or mosquitoes and affects the skin, heart, kidneys, blood and bone marrow.
- Giardia, the causative agent of giardiasis, affects the mucous membrane of the intestines or gall bladder.After the defeat, people begin to suffer from asthma, mental disorders (mostly depression), and dry skin.Giardia is common in countries with warm climates.
- Trichomonas (depending on the place of residence - oral, intestinal and genital or urogenital), causes trichomoniasis.After infection, a person feels itching in the region of the reproductive system and pathological discharge from the genitals is observed.The biggest danger of this disease is the high risk of developing infertility.
- Trypanosoma causes African or American trypanosomiasis (the first sleeping sickness, the second Chags disease).It affects the lymph nodes (they enlarge), the spinal fluid, the blood and the spleen, as a result of which the function of the spleen and liver is disturbed, the patient suffers from drowsiness and may die.
Ciliate class
Balantidia was the causative agent of balantidiasis, which affects the mucous membrane of the large intestine.A clear sign of this parasite is mucus and bloody diarrhea.This disease often ends in death.
What diseases do rhizomes and sporozoa cause?
Class Sporozoa
- Plasmodium malaria enters the blood and liver and causes malaria.Symptoms of the disease include fever, chills or fever, central nervous system disorders, and death is possible.Malaria is transmitted by mosquito bites and transmitted by humans.
- The causative agent of toxoplasmosis is toxoplasma, which affects the central nervous system, digestive organs, muscle tissue and eyes.At first, it occurs without symptoms, then disturbances in the work of certain organs are observed.
Class sardcode
Dysenteric amoeba is the causative agent of amoebiasis, which affects the mucosa of the colon and, less commonly, the bladder and skin.It can be asymptomatic or manifest with vomiting, bloody diarrhea and low-grade fever (up to 37.5 degrees).Symptoms appear 7-10 days after amoebae enter the body.
Extraintestinal forms of the disease affecting the liver, lungs, or other organs are less common.This disease is common in Asia and tropical countries.
Ways of infection
Single-celled parasites enter our body in different ways - through the skin or through natural holes in the human body.
There are four main ways that a person can become infected with a parasitic disease:
- the contact route opens in unsanitary conditions and when personal hygiene rules are not followed (when shaking hands or using household items, bathing in dirty water, cysts enter the human body and begin to develop), through which trypanosomes and trichomonas are transmitted;
- products contaminated with parasites (meat, especially wild animals, fish, dairy products) can be disinfected by heat treatment;an example of a disease transmitted in this way is toxoplasmosis;
- fecal-oral route: parasites leave the body with feces or vomit, then enter water, food, household items, hands of the owner and through them into the body of a new carrier (this route of infection is especially common among children: contact with animals, eating unwashed fruit, playing in a dirty sandbox);
- transmissible (malaria) - transmission of protozoan parasites through a bite along with the carrier's saliva.
Less often, parasites enter the body in the following ways:
- during pregnancy from mother to fetus, this path is called transplacental, because parasites penetrate through the placenta;
- with contaminated blood (blood transfusion and other medical procedures during sexual intercourse, injections, including drugs) - blood contact;
- during sexual intercourse - genital tract.
Prevention of infection
To prevent infection with unicellular organisms, a person should follow a number of simple rules:
- correct heat treatment of fish and meat, control of milk;
- You can eat only products that have passed sanitary inspection;
- it is not enough to wash the fruits and just soak them in water before eating;wash them well and, if possible, pour boiling water over them;
- avoid casual sex;
- prevention of insect bites (use of special creams, mosquito repellents);
- regular medical examinations for suspected infection and prevention;
- increasing immunity, including the consumption of garlic, oranges, carrots, green tea, dried fruits, rice porridge;
- basic knowledge of which protozoa parasitize the human body and how they get there.
These rules are easy to follow, the main thing is regularity.
Information about groups of parasites helps to prioritize among preventive measures named patterns of unicellular parasites.
With proper prevention and in case of illness - with surgical treatment, parasites will not harm your body.