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"PROTOZOA"
INTRODUCTION
The dual view of the living world, well manifested in the
work of Linnaeus ('Systema Naturae') with the proposal of 2
kingdoms, perdured almost until the early 70's in the last
century. If one organism was photosynthetic or was growing in
the ground, it was a 'plant' (Lt. 'planta' means a plant), and
it was moving freely, then it was an 'animal' (Lt. 'anima', that
has a soul: it feels and moves under its own impulse).
Despite
of
knowing
large
differences
between
the
'microrganisms'
in
terms
of
their
cellular
organization
(prokaryote vs. eukaryote), the proposed extension of the 2
classic kingdoms was accepted late in the scientific world.
It is not surprising, therefore, that this duality has
subordinated the study of the unicellular eukaryotes, either to
the
Botany
or
Zoology,
according
to
photosynthetic
or
heterotrophic attributes. Thus, in front of the Metaphytes or
multicellular plants, the Botany began with Protophytes or Algae
(including some forms of prokaryotes and Fungi). In a parallel
way, the Zoology separates the multicellular forms under the
name METAZOA, whereas the heterotrophic unicellular organisms
were grouped under a suggestive name: PROTOZOA.
The implications of a dual system, although convenient,
distorts the reality, because it is not offering a real
phylogenetic dichotomy. The change from prokaryote to eukaryote
has a larger significance for the living world than the change
from Plant to Animal. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationships
of unicellular eukaryotes are much more complex than previously
thought. In addition, there are some groups of eukaryotes, such
as flagellate euglenoids, with genera including species with
plant affinities, other species physiologically closer to
animals, and the rest they behave both like animals and plants
at the same time. For example, some dinoflagellates obtain 5% of
its energy requirements through photosynthesis, while the
remaining 95% follows heterotrophic metabolic pathways. Even
some flagellates can change from autotrophy to heterotrophy,
after maintaining in darkness for 24 hours.
All these contradictions encouraged the spread of the
proposal of Whittaker (1969), where the living world was divided
into two large super-kingdoms and 5 kingdoms (see fig. 1).
PROTISTA was placed at the base of the three large kingdoms of
multicellular eukaryotes: PLANTAE, ANIMALIA and FUNGI. As
consequence, all unicellular eukaryotes contain the groups
classified
as
PROTOPHYTA,
PROMYCOTA
and
PROTOZOA.
The
heterogeneity of some taxa of PROTISTA has influenced new
proposals of kingdoms of the living world. As we see, the
validity of the term 'protozoan' is not greater than that
achieved by the term 'worm', and yet it is the subject of this
chapter deal with protozoans. A recent classification system
proposed for PROTISTA recognized up to 27 phyla, more than half
exhibit autotrophic metabolic pathways, and the remaining 13 are
heterotrophs. Of these 13 heterotrophs, 9 are endoparasites or
endosymbiotic.
Three
phyla
(DINOPHYTA,
EUGLENOPHYTA
and
CRYPTOPHYTA) include species
botanists and zoologists.
which
have
been
disputed
by
METAZOA
with
PROMYCOTA,
fundamental difference
of eukaryotes is the
since
they
are
also
survival
and
reproduction.
By
contrast,
multicellular
eukaryotes, carry out all these general functions by cell groups
integrated in different tissues, even in complex organs.
with
form
cell
more
DIAGNOSIS
Protozoans are eukaryotic, unicellular, with 1 to several
nuclei, capable of forming colonies. Most protozoans are
microscopic. In the colonies of protozoans there is an incipient
cell differentiation in germ cells and somatic cells (first sign
of a cellular labour division). However, protozoan cells are
unable to form tissues.
GENERAL CHARACTERS
From a zoological point of view, it should be noted that a
large number of protozoan species are colonial and some species
exhibit clearly multicellular stages during their life cycle.
The reason for further consideration of these organisms as
protozoans is given: (i) primarily by an easy recognition of
their relationship with other unicellular forms, (ii) by lacking
somatic cell differentiation, and finally (iii) by lacking
embryonic development. Metazoans are multicellular by a somatic
cellular
differentiation,
which
appears
well
defined
by
embryonic processes. The difficulty in establishing a neat
border between colonial protozoans and metazoans should be
solved conceptually with the following point of view: the
singularity of the metazoans is not their multicellularity
(which is shared with groups of protozoans), but better by the
evolutionary significance the metazoans are going to give to the
multicellular character along evolution.
Briefly,
we
can
list
the
singular
characteristics
with
of
the
embryonic
processes.
3. Lacking tissues or organs, although they exhibit very complex
cell organules.
flagellates;
b)
rhizopods
CLASSIFICATION
Protozoans can be grouped under four basic forms (see fig.
3). This classification is useful in a simplified study of the
protozoans from the external point of view of metazoans. The
groups are: (1) Amoebae or rhizopods: its main characteristic is
the possession of small cell appendages called pseudopods. (2)
Flagellates: whose main characteristic is the possession of
flagella. (3) Ciliates being its main characteristic the
presence of numerous cilia, that occur in high rows along their
bodies. Each cell contains nuclei of two types: a macronucleus
and a micronucleus. (4) Sporozoans, endoparasites, and its main
feature is the use of spores for transmission of infections.
Often, groups 1 and 2 are further grouped under the phylum
Sarcomastigophora, the group 3 within the phylum Ciliophora, and
group 4 of the "Sporozoa" has been revealed as extraordinarily
10
11
12
Fig. 7. Similarity
protist cell.
of
the
choanocyte
and
choanoflagellate