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Activity 1 - Intestinal Protozoans
Activity 1 - Intestinal Protozoans
Intestinal Protozoa
Objectives:
• To recognize the trophozoite and cyst stages of different
intestinal protozoans.
• To differentiate closely related species based on the
organism’s distinctive characteristics or diagnostic feature.
• To develop practical knowledge on preventive measures
against infections by learning about the life cycle of
intestinal protozoans.
Intestinal Protozoans in Humans
• Entamoeba histolytica
• Entamoeba coli
• Iodamoeba butschlii
• Endolimax nana
• Giardia lamblia
• Chilomastix mesnili
• Balantidium coli
• Cyclospora cayetanensis
• Cryptoporidium parvum
• Isospora belli
TROPHOZOITE CYST
• The motile, feeding stage • Should drying occur, many
• Stage where protozoa parasites have the ability
move by use of flagella, to ENCYST.
cilia, or pseudopodia
(roughly used as basis of Encystment
classification). • A process whereby trophozoite
condenses into a sphere.
• Pre-cyst secrete a resistant
cyst wall around themselves to
survive harsh conditions away
from a host.
• nuclear division begins after
encystment
Entamoeba histolytica
Entamoeba dispar
Entamoeba coli
Entamoeba hartmanni
Entamoeba polecki
Entamoeba gingivalis (oral)
Endolimax nana
Iodamoeba bütschlii
Entamoeba histolytica and E.dispar
2 morphologically similar amoebas in man.
E. histolytica
• the pathogenic or invasive form
• invades the intestinal mucosa and produces dysentery
or amoebomas
• may give rise to extra-intestinal lesions via the blood,
mainly to the liver.
E.dispar
• The commensal or non-invasive luminal form where
the parasite causes no signs or symptoms of disease.
Entamoeba histolytica
AMEBIASIS (amebic dysentery, amebic hepatitis)
TROPHOZOITE - 20 to 30 µm in
diameter.
• cytoplasm consists of clear
ectoplasm, finely granular
endoplasm;
• food vacuoles often containing
rbc's are common
• characteristic structure is the single
nucleus with one endosome.
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites
Entamoeba histolytica
CYST - 10-20 µm
Usual range, 12-15 µm.
• Usually spherical.
Proteolytic enzymes
TROPHOZOITE - 20 to 30 m in
diameter
• granular endoplasm is coarser than
E. histolytica
• Nucleus: Endosome is off-centered
or eccentric; with coarse peripheral
chromatin
• Lives in large intestine and feeds
on bacteria and any other cells
available to it; does not invade
tissue.
Entamoeba coli
CYST - encystment is similar to that
of E. histolytica
• Immature cysts are rare in fecal
smears, has 2 nuclei
• Mature cyst is large, 10 to 33 m,
has 8-16 nuclei
• Chromatoidal bodies, if present,
have splinter-like ends (disappear
in most cysts)
• Cyst is released in the feces into
the external environment
Entamoeba coli life cycle
Other Entamoeba species:
Commensals/non-pathogenic forms
E. dispar – identical with E.histolytica but non-invasive.
Endolimax nana
Entamoeba histolytica
Endosome
or
Karyosome
Iodamoeba butchlii
Entamoeba coli
Giardia lamblia
Dientamoeba fragilis
Chilomastix mesnili
Enteromonas hominis
Retortamonas intestinalis
Trichomonas hominis
Giardia lamblia / G. intestinalis
GIARDIASIS
• the most common identified cause of
water-borne disease associated with
▫ breakdown of water purification systems
▫ drinking from contaminated streams
▫ travel to endemic areas (Russia, India, Rocky
Mountains, etc.)
▫ day care centers.
Giardia lamblia / G. intestinalis
TROPHOZOITES
• Size: 10-20 m.
Usual range, 12-15 m.
• Half pear-shaped organism
• 8 flagella and 2 axostyles
arranged in a bilateral
symmetry
• There are two anteriorly
located large suction discs
• Cytoplasm contains two nuclei
and two parabasal bodies
• Endosome: central
• Motility: “Falling leaf.”
Morphology of Giardia lamblia trophozoite
Somatic ciliature
Balantidium coli
Trophozoite
Balantidium coli
CYST - 45-65 m. Usual range,
50-55 m.
• Spherical or oval.
• 1 large macronucleus visible in
unstained preparations as hyaline
mass.
• Macronucleus and contractile
vacuole are visible in young
cysts. In older cysts, internal
structure appears granular.
The Coccidia (Apicomplexa)
Coccidians are members of the Phylum Apicomplexa that
infect the intestinal mucosa (not rbc’s) of the vertebrate
host.
Cryptosporidium spp.
Cyclospora cayetanensis
Isospora belli
Sarcocystis hominis
Life Cycle of Cryptosporidium
Cryptosporidium spp.
• Oocysts are the infective and diagnostic stage – size is 3-6 µm
Usual range, 4-5 µm in diameter .
• Sporulated oocysts, containing 4 sporozoites, are excreted by the infected
host through feces and possibly other routes such as respiratory
secretions
• The sporozoites are released and parasitize epithelial cells of the
intestines. Here, parasites undergo asexual multiplication (schizogony or
merogony).
• Sexual multiplication (gametogony) follows, producing microgamonts
(male) and macrogamonts (female).
• Fertilization results into oocysts which sporulate in the intestine.
• Spherical or oval oocyst are shed by the host and is the infective stage.
Cryptosporidium parvum
Oocysts on the
surface of small
intestinal cells
Oocysts of Cryptosporidium
Each oocyst contains 4 sporozoites that attach to surface of small intestinal cells
Cryptosporidium Paromycin
Oro-fecal Diarrhea Ooocysts in stool
parvum (investigational)
Isospora belli Oro-fecal Giardiasis-like Ooocysts in stool Sulpha drugs