What are Protozoan parasites?
Protozoan parasites are eukaryotes or unicellular organisms that have well developed structures inside membranes. As parasites, they gain food and protection by living within other organisms, referred to as hosts. If they reach the human host, these parasites can cause a wide range of problems. Some protozoon parasites are responsible for serious and sometimes deadly diseases. Others, such as those that infect the gastrointestinal tract, cause unpleasant symptoms, but usually do not show fatal.
These parasites can be found everywhere: in water, food and soil. When they infect their hosts, Protozoan parasites are usually in a cyst form, a sleeping state in which the body has closed in a hard membrane. As a cyst, the parasite can survive harsh conditions and live for a long time to find the host. After the parasite finds a home in the host, it changes its form to gain nutrition and reproduce.
There are many types of parasites. Intestinal pararities are a worldwide problem,Especially in places where water and food sources are contaminated. One intestinal protozoan parasite, entamoeba histolytica , is found in tropical and subtropical areas and is responsible for the Amebic dysentery. Another intestinal parasite, giardia lamblia , is common in mild areas. It usually affects outside, such as tourists and campers who drink dangerous water in distant areas.
Other protozoan parasites infect blood. Among the most dangerous of these parasites are those that cause African sleeping disease, malaria and leishmaniosis, a disease whose initial symptoms include sores on the skin that spreads and damages the liver and spleen over time. Parasitic protozoa that causes these diseases to need mediation organisms such as insects to infect human hosts. African sleeping disease requires tsetse flies, malaria required and leishManiasis require sand flies.
Treatment of parasite protozoans depends on the type of parasites and on which the disease causes. For example, giardiasis and amoebic remuneration are treated with antipotozoal drugs such as metronidazole. Malaria must be treated with antimalarial drugs as soon as it is detected. African sleeping disease responds to medicines containing arsenic.
Symptoms of Protozoan parasites vary depending on parasites. Intestinal parasites cause vomiting and diarrhea, while parasites who infect blood cause symptoms such as chills, fever and headache. All parasitic infections are serious conditions. People who have protozoan infection must see their doctor as soon as possible for quick treatment. To avoid infection of protozoan parasites, it is recommended that people regularly wash their hands, avoid their hands in the mouth and drank only the water that was treated.