Protozoan infection

Protozoan infection
Classification and external resources

Amoebic ulcer of the intestine caused by E.histolytica
ICD-10 A06-A07, B50-B64
DiseasesDB 28851
eMedicine ped/1914
MeSH D011528

Protozoan infections are parasitic diseases organisms formerly classified in the Kingdom Protozoa.[1] They include organisms classified in Amoebozoa, Excavata, and Chromalveolata.

Examples include Entamoeba histolytica, Plasmodium (some of which cause malaria), and Giardia lamblia.[2] Trypanosoma brucei, transmitted by the tsetse fly and the cause of African sleeping sickness, is another example.[3]

The species traditionally collectively termed "protozoa" are not closely related to each other, and have only superficial similarities (eukaryotic, unicellular, motile, though with exceptions.) The terms "protozoa" (and protist) are usually discouraged in the modern biosciences. However, this terminology is still encountered in medicine. This is partially because of the conservative character of medical classification, and partially due to the necessity of making identifications of organisms based upon appearances and not upon DNA.

Protozoan infections in animals may be caused by organisms in the sub-class Coccidia (disease: Coccidiosis) and species in the genus Besnoitia (disease: Besnoitiosis)

Treatment

They are treated with antiprotozoal agents.[4]

References

  1. ^ Protozoan Infections at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
  2. ^ "Intestinal and Luminal Protozoa". 
  3. ^ "Sleeping Sickness". 
  4. ^ Protozoan Infections at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)