Protozoa 2

Sri Riyati
Sugiarto
Amebae Entamoeba histolytica, E. coli, E. hartmanni, E.
dispar, E. moshkouskii, E. ginggivalis, Endolimax
nana, Iodamoeba butschlii.

Flagellates Giardia lamblia (duodenalis/intestinalis),

Dientamoeba fragilis, Trichomonas vaginalis,
Chilomastix mesnili (enteric), Trichomonas tenax
(oral)

Ciliates Balantidium coli

Sporozoa (Coccidia) Cystoisospora (formerly Isospora) : C. belli

Cryptosporidium : C. hominis, C. parvum
Sarcocystis sp
Cyclospora sp. : C. cayetanensis

Microsporidia Enchepalitozoon intestinalis (Septata intestinalis),

Enterocytozoon bienusi
 Amebae
Primitive unicellular microorganisms.
Life cycle divided into 2 stages:
Actively motile feeding stage (trophozoite)
Quiescent, resistant, infective stage (cyst)
Replication by binary fission
Motility by pseudopod (false foot)
In human, most are commensal (Entamoeba coli, E.
hatmanni, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, E. gingivalis, E.
nana, Iodamoeba butschlii)
E. histolityca pathogen
Free living amebae (Naegleria fowleri, Acanthamoeba
spp.) opportunistic human pathogens
 E. histolytica* E. coli
Size (diameter, m)
Trophozoite 12-50 20-30
Cyst 10-20 10-30
Pattern of peripheral Fine, dispersed ring Coarse, clumped
nuclear chromatin

Karyosome Central, sharp Eccentric, coarse

Ingested erythrocyte Present Absent

Cyst Structure
No. of nuclei 1-4 1-8
Chromatoidal bars Rounded ends Splintered, frayed ends

*) E. histolytica can not be distinguished from E. dispar or other commensal amebae.

 Iodamoeba butschlii
Infective stage cyst
(condition: moisture and
warmth) distinctive
Rounded to angular shape
Nucleus large with big,
ovooid, eccentric
endosome.
Large glycogen body, stains
deeply with iodine
Both cyst and trophozoite
are uninucleate
 Iodamoeba butschlii
Trophozoite
reside in large intestine, feeding on yeast and
bacteria
Non pathogen
Prominent feature: large, vesicular nucleus
Endolimax nana
The smallest intestine-dwelling
amoebae infecting humans
Trophozoite lives in colon, non-
pathogenic
Prevalence 30% in populations
Cyst: smaller, ovoid shape, 1-4
vesicular nuclei, each containing a
large, eccentric endosome
Nuclear envelope is very thin,
difficult to see even in stained
preparation
 Balantidium coli
Ciliophora:
protozoans possessing cilia in at
least one stage of their life cycle
Having 2 different types of nuclei:
one macronucleus and one or
more micronuclei.
Distinctive feature of B. coli:
the presence of a depression
(peristome) leading into the
cytosome
Large in size
The only ciliophoran parasitic in
human
 Balantidium coli
Trophozoite inhabits the caecum and colon of
humans
The largest known protozoan parasite to human,
also parasitizes pigs and monkeys
Conspicuous vestibulum leads into large
cytosome at anterior end, opposite to cytopyge
Coarse cilia
Macronucleus elongate and kidney-shaped,
vesicular micronucleus is spherical.
Two prominent contractile vacuoles
 Balantidium coli
Transmission via cyst
round, heavy cyst wall
consisting possibly 2 layers
Cilia, large macronucleus and
contractile vacuoles readily
visible within the cyst
Infection in human where
malnutrition is widespread,
pig share habitation with
human, fecal contamination
of food and water
 Balantidium coli
Asymptomatic to severe
Invasion of the mucosal epitheliumhemorrhage
and ulceration balantidial dysentery.
Colitis and diarrhea resembles amoebiasis, but
extra intestinal disease is rare
Diagnosis: stool examination for trophozoites and
cysts.
Identification of cyst: large size, heavy wall, large
macronucleus, presence of cilia within.
Dientamoeba fragilis
Protozoa with certain amoeboid
forms that may or may not possess
flagella
Occurs worldwide
Considered non-pathogenic
although suspected of pathogenic
potential because of fibrosis of the
appendiceal wall.
Trophozoite lives in cecal area,
frequently binucleate, thin nuclear
envelope visible after staining
No cyst form reported, Enterobius
as possible carriers
Dientamoeba fragilis
Diagnosis: trophozoite in feces
In water, trophozoite swells,
return to normal size.
In the swollen state, numerous
cytoplasmic granules exhibit
Brownian movement.
Hakansson Phenomenon
peculiar, for identification