Download Protozoan diseases

Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
Protist Disease Report
Using the information that follows, select a disease. After you have selected your
disease, your assignments is to write a report about the disease. Include a short
paragraph for each of the following topics…
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the name of the disease
how a person gets it
it’s symptoms
how is it treated
is it deadly, etc.
The report should be at least three paragraphs long.
Toxoplasmosis (tax-o-plaz-mo-sis)
What is Toxoplasmosis?
 Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by protozoans.
How do I get Toxoplasmosis?
 People can catch toxoplasmosis from…
o touching or coming into contact with infected cat feces (cats get the
infection from eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals)
o eating raw or undercooked meat that's infected; or eating uncooked,
unwashed fruits or vegetables that have been contaminated by manure.
What are the symptoms of Toxoplasmosis?
 Most people won't know that they have contracted toxoplasmosis.
 Those who develop symptoms…
o symptoms similar to those of the flu or mononucleosis
o body aches
o swollen lymph nodes
o headache
o fever
o fatigue
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
o occasionally, a sore throat
Treatment
 Most people will not need treatment.
 If treatment is required, antimalarial drugs are prescribed.
Giardiasis (GEE-are-DYE-uh-sis)
What is giardiasis?
 It is a diarrheal illness caused by a protozoan (Giardia lamblia), that lives in the
intestine of people and animals.
How do I get giardiasis?
 It is passed in the fecal matter of an infected person or animal.
 You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite. Giardia may
be found in soil, food, water, or surfaces that have been contaminated with the
feces from infected humans or animals.
 Giardia is not spread by contact with blood.
 Giardia can be spread by…
 putting something in your mouth or accidentally swallowing something that has
come in contact with the fecal matter of a person or animal infected with Giardia
 swallowing recreational water contaminated with Giardia
 Recreational water is…
o water in swimming pools
o hot tubs
o Jacuzzis
o fountains
o lakes
o rivers
o springs
o ponds
o streams
 eating uncooked food contaminated with Giardia
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
What are the symptoms of giardiasis?
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Symptoms include…
Diarrhea
loose or watery fecal matter
stomach cramps
upset stomach.
These symptoms may lead to…
o weight loss
o dehydration
 Some people have no symptoms.
 Symptoms generally begin 1-2 weeks after being infected.
 Symptoms may last 2-6 weeks
o Occasionally, symptoms last longer
Treatment
 Use of special antibiotics.
Malaria
What is malaria?
 Malaria is a debilitating, infectious disease caused by a protozoan
(Plasmodium) and transmitted by a mosquito
How do I get malaria?
 Humans get malaria from the bite of a malaria-infected mosquito.
o When a mosquito bites an infected person, it ingests microscopic malaria
parasites found in the person’s blood.
What are the symptoms of malaria?
 Symptoms of malaria include…
o fever and flu-like illness
o shaking chills
o headache
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
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o muscle aches
o tiredness
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea may also occur
Malaria may cause…
anemia
jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood
cells
If not promptly treated, may cause…
kidney failure
seizures
mental confusion
coma
death
Treatment
It is essential to get antimalarial drugs as soon as possible.
Cryptosporidiosis (krip-toe-spo-rid-ee-oh-sis)
What is cryptosporidiosis?
 It is a diarrheal disease caused by a protozoan (Apicomplexa).
 It can live in the intestine of humans and animals and is passed in the fecal
matter of an infected person or animal.
How do I get cryptosporidiosis?
 The parasite is passed in the fecal matter of an infected person or animal
 You can become infected after accidentally swallowing the parasite.
 Giardia may be found in…
o Soil
o Food
o Water
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
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o surfaces that have been contaminated
o the feces from infected humans or animals
Giardia is not spread by contact with blood
Giardia can be spread…
by putting something in your mouth or accidentally swallowing something that
has come in contact with the fecal matter of a person or animal infected with
Giardia
swallowing recreational water contaminated with Giardia
o water in swimming pools
o hot tubs
o Jacuzzis
o fountains
o lakes
o rivers
o springs
o ponds
o streams
eating uncooked food contaminated with Giardia
What are the symptoms of cryptosporidiosis?
 Symptoms include…
o Diarrhea
o loose or watery fecal matter
o stomach cramps
o upset stomach
o slight fever
 Some people have no symptoms
 Symptoms generally begin 2-10 days after being infected.
 Symptoms usually last about 2 weeks
 Symptoms may go in cycles in which you may seem to get better for a few days,
then feel worse, before the illness ends.
Treatment
 Antibiotics can be prescribed for treating diarrhea.
 Drinking plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration is recommended.
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
Amebiasis (am-e-BI-a-sis)
What is amebiasis?
 Amebiasis is a disease caused by protozoa (Entamoeba histolytica).
How do I get amebiasis?
 You can get amebiasis by…
 putting anything into your mouth that has touched the fecal matter of a person
who is infected the protozoan
 swallowing something, such as water or food, that is contaminated with the
protozoan
 touching and bringing to your mouth cysts (eggs) picked up from surfaces that
are contaminated with the protozoan.
What are the symptoms of amebiasis?
 On average, about one in 10 people who are infected with E. histolytica becomes
sick from the infection
 The symptoms often are quite mild and can include..
o loose fecal matter
o stomach pain
o and stomach cramping
 Amebic dysentery is a severe form of amebiasis associated with…
o stomach pain
o bloody fecal matter
o fever
 Rarely, E. histolytica invades the liver and forms an abscess.
 Even less commonly, it spreads to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or
brain.
Treatment
 Antibiotics are prescribed.
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
Cyclospora (SIGH-clo-SPORE-uh)
What is cyclospora?
 A disease caused by protozoan (Cyclospora cayetanensis).
How do I get cyclospora?
 Cyclospora is spread by people ingesting something, for example…
o water or food that was contaminated with infected fecal matter
 For example, outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have been linked to various types of
fresh produce
 Cyclospora needs time (days or weeks) after being passed in a bowel movement to
become infectious
 It is unlikely that Cyclospora is passed directly from one person to another.
What are the symptoms of cyclospora?
 Cyclospora infects the small intestine (bowel) and usually causes watery diarrhea,
with frequent, sometimes explosive, bowel movements
 Other symptoms can…
o include loss of appetite
o substantial loss of weight
o bloating
o increased gas
o stomach cramps
o nausea
o vomiting
o muscle aches
o low-grade fever
o fatigue
 Some people who are infected with Cyclospora do not have any symptoms
 The time between becoming infected and becoming sick is usually about 1 week
 If not treated, the illness may last from a few days to a month or longer
 Symptoms may seem to go away and then return one or more times (relapse)
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Objective – I can identify a disease caused by protozoans and write a report about the disease.
Treatment
 Antibiotics, rest, and drinking plenty of fluids when diarrhea is present.
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