A subkingdom consisting of unicellular organisms that are the simplest in the animal kingdom. Most are free living. They range in size from submicroscopic to macroscopic. Protozoa are divided into seven phyla: Sarcomastigophora, Labyrinthomorpha, Apicomplexa, Microspora, Ascetospora, Myxozoa, and Ciliophora.
A microscopic, single-celled animal form. A unicellular organism without a true cell wall, that obtains its food phagotropically.
Microscopic one-celled animals.
The simplest single-celled organisms classified as animals. Some protozoa can infect the body and cause diseases such as dysentery and sleeping sickness.
A group of microscopic single celled animals. Most protozoans are free-living but some are important disease causing parasites of man; for example, Plasmodium, Leishmania, and Trypanosoma cause malaria, kala-azar, and sleeping sickness respectively.
Protozoa (singular protozoon) Microscopic primitive animals comprising a single cell. Most live freely, but around 30 are parasitic in humans, causing disease such as amoebiasis and giardiasis (intestinal infections), malaria, kala-azar and sleeping sickness. Some protozoa are able to excrete, respire, and absorb food particles and they may move around like a mobile jelly or by means of beating hairs (flagellae).
The phylum of the kingdom Protista that includes unicellular, animal like microorganisms. Many protozoa are saprophytes that live on dead matter in water and soil. Many parasitic protozoa infect only humans without adequate immunological defenses, although a few infect immunocompetent persons. Infections are spread by the fecal-oral route, through ingestion of food or water contaminated with cysts or spores, or by the bite of a mosquito or other insect that has previously bitten an infected person. Common protozoan infections include malaria (Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae); gastroenteritis (Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia), leishmaniasis, an inflammatory skin or visceral disease ( Leishmania species); sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma gambiense); and vaginal infections (Trichomonas vaginalis). Pneumocystis jiroveci, previously classified as a protozoon, is now categorized as a fungus. Opportunistic protozoan infections caused by Cryptosporidium parvum and Toxoplasma gondii are seen in patients who are immunosuppressed by disease or drug therapy.
A collective of minuscule single-celled (unicellular) or non-cellular organisms that thrive in damp soil or water. These organisms predominantly survive as parasites, relying on other life forms for sustenance.
The most basic and primitive form of animal life, comprising a solitary cell, is referred to as protozoa. These microorganisms are larger than bacteria yet still require a microscope for observation. Around 30 varieties of protozoa are known to parasitize humans, causing conditions such as malaria, amoebiasis, giardiasis, sleeping sickness, trichomoniasis, toxoplasmosis, and leishmaniasis.
The most basic animal life category, comprising single-celled organisms lacking both a nervous and circulatory system. Some of these organisms can be harmful to humans, causing diseases like amebic dysentery, Leishmaniasis, kala-azar, oriental sore, malaria, American trypanosomiasis, and East African sleeping sickness.